Oath Keepers acted on Jan. 6 to overthrow government and fight Biden's presidency "by any means necessary," prosecutors say
CBSN
Washington — Leaders of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group worked to "shatter a bedrock of American democracy" when they planned and executed a coordinated attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the Justice Department alleged in federal court Monday, on the first day of their trial.
"They banded together to do whatever was necessary, up to and including using force," prosecutor Jeffrey Nestler told a jury at the trial of five members or affiliates of the group charged with seditious conspiracy and other crimes stemming from their alleged involvement in the Capitol breach.
Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and codefendants Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell were part of the group whose goal was to "stop by any means necessary the lawful transfer of power, including the taking up arms against the United States government," Nestler said, during the government's opening argument.
An American Airlines jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided with an Army helicopter Wednesday night while coming in for a landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington. The Black Hawk helicopter was carrying a crew of three. Officials said early Thursday that everyone on board both aircraft is believed dead, which would make it the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly a quarter century.