paramilitary combat tactics, which, you know, if you look at some of the video, you see some of the ways these men moved on to police officers who were trying to defend the capitol. you can tell that they had practiced some of the paramilitary tactics that you see used there. and that s one of the things that the prosecutors are referring to. they said that they helped organize the bringing of weapons and supplies, including knives, batons, camouflage combat uniforms, and tactical vests, helmets, eye protection and radio equipment, all in order to carry out what, again, prosecutors are describing a very well-organized conspiracy that goes back weeks before january 6th. again, a lot of the questions have surrounded january 6th has been, you know, was this just a spontaneous reaction by this group of people to storm the capitol? was this something that they had planned well in advance? and according to this charge
the defendants conspired through a variety of manners and means, including organizing into teams that were prepared and willing to use force and to transport firearms and ammunition in to washington, d.c. recruiting members and affiliates to participate in the conspiracy, organizing trainings to teach and learn paramilitary combat tactics, bringing and contributing paramilitary gear, weapons, and supplies, including knives, batons, camouflage uniforms, technical vets with plates, eye protection and radio equipment to the capitol grounds, breaching and attempting to take control of the capitol grounds and building on january 6th, 2021, in an event to prevent, hinder, and delay the certification of the electoral college vote using force against law enforcement officers while inside the capitol on january 6th, 2021, continuing to plot after january
persons conspire to overthrow, put down or destroy by force the government, or by force to prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any law, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property. now in plain english, this is the first time our government has called some of the events that happened on january 6 a conspiracy to use force to prevent the presidential transition. it s important to understand who we re dealing with here. now unlike the randomly thuggish proud boys, the oath keepers are an organization largely of current and former military, law enforcement, and first responders. they re trained by our own tax dollars to know how to use those weapons. in their statement announcing the indictment, the doj says rhodes and defendants conspired to transport ammunition into washington, d.c., organizing trainings to teach and learn paramilitary combat tactics and