He declined to share specifics on the threats.Ī DeWine spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment on Caldwell’s remarks. Mike DeWine closed the Ohio Statehouse and deployed National Guard troops to the building, citing threats of potentially violent armed protests at all 50 U.S. “We’re in the f***ing Capitol bro,” Watkins, similarly dressed, says to the camera.Ĭourt records identifying attorneys for Watkins and Crowl were not available with federal court records as of Tuesday afternoon. “Look who took over the Capitol, over ran the Capitol,” Crowl, clad in a tactical vest, combat fatigues, and a helmet with goggles perched on top of it. “They’re throwing grenades, they’re shooting people with paintballs, but we’re in here.”įootage posted to Parler, an alternative social media site favored by conservatives, and obtained by ProPublica depicts Crowl and Watkins inside the building. “We are in the mezzanine, we are in the main building right now, we are rocking it,” she said. Her last communication via Zello is candid. “We’re sticking together and sticking to the plan.” “We’ve got a good group, there’s about 30, 40 of us,” she said. Radio communications through the Zello walkie-talkie app, intercepted by reporters and published in The Guardian, captured Watkins and other militia members communicating in real time as they enter the building. 6 raid reported by this outlet and later cited by federal prosecutors shows a train of Oath Keepers, including Crowl and Watkins, slicing through a crowd and up the stairs to the U.S. “That’s when we knew things had gotten really bad.”Ĭrowl, speaking to The New Yorker, made similar remarks.įootage of the Jan. “To me, it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw until we started hearing glass smash,” she said.
She said she did not destroy any property inside or fight with any law enforcement officers. Watkins, in an interview before her arrest, acknowledged entering the Capitol amid the mob. Officials located pipe bombs at Republican and Democratic party headquarters near the Capitol, along with Molotov cocktails and other weapons on the Capitol grounds. Tell me when!”Ĭaldwell could not be reached for comment via a phone number contained in his charging documents.Īt least 50 officers were injured during the course of events Jan. “We need to do this at the local level,” he allegedly said. Charging documents cite Facebook messages sent to an unidentified recipient of Caldwell boasting about being an “instigator” and how the doors were “breached.” 6 breach of the Capitol, federal officials allege. 14, the day the Ohio Capital Journal first identified Watkins at the raid, she left Ohio to stay with Caldwell in Virginia.Ĭaldwell was involved in planning and coordinating the Jan. In an affidavit, an FBI agent cited information from an unidentified witness stating that on Jan. On Tuesday, authorities arrested Thomas Caldwell, who the feds say has a “leadership role” with the Oath Keepers, in connection with the raid. Capitol Police officer and an insurrectionist shot by police. 6 raid on Congress, which left five people dead including a U.S.
Members have been convicted of several acts of violence and weapons charges, even before the Jan. Oath Keepers are predominantly former armed forces members (including Crowl and Watkins) and law enforcement who believe the government is stripping freedoms away from Americans.
The two Ohioans are dues-paying Oath Keeper members, according to an interview with Watkins, another outlet’s interview with Crowl, and the federal allegations. Thomas Caldwell, 65, who the feds say has a leadership role in the collective of several unregulated ‘militia’ groups known as the Oath Keepers, was charged with the same counts, along with conspiracy to commit an offense. Jessica Watkins, 38, and Donovan Crowl, 49, both of Champaign County, are facing federal charges of entering restricted grounds, violent entry, and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. 6 as Congress was voting to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. COLUMBUS, Ohio - The following article was originally published in the Ohio Capital Journal and published on under a content-sharing agreement.Īuthorities charged a leader of the Oath Keepers and two members from Ohio for their role in breaching the U.S.
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