'Oath Keeper' Jessica Watkins denounced the extremist group but will stay in jail before her trial, judge says
Category: News & Politics
Via: tessylo • 5 years ago • 29 commentsBy: Erin Snodgrass, Business Insider
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
'Oath Keeper' Jessica Watkins denounced the extremist group but will stay in jail before her trial, judge says
Jessica Marie Watkins (2nd from L) and Donovan Ray Crowl (Center), both from Ohio, march down the east front steps of the U.S. Capitol with the Oath Keepers militia group among supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021. Both have since been indicted by federal authorities for their roles in the siege on the U.S. Capitol. Picture taken January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Jim Bourg/File Photo
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Jessica Watkins is charged with conspiracy over her role in the deadly January 6 Capitol siege.
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On Friday, a federal judge rejected Watkin's request to await her impending trial in home detention.
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In court, Watkins denounced the far-right extremist group she has been linked to, according to CNN.
On Friday, a federal judge ruled that a member of a far-right militia group who stormed the US Capitol building will remain in jail after she petitioned to be released over safety concerns.
Jessica Watkins , an alleged 'Oath Keeper' charged with conspiring to attack the US Capitol building on January 6, made her first public comments since her arrest last month in a court hearing on Friday, where she denounced the extremist organization and said she was "humbled" and "humiliated" by the charges against her according to CNN.
But Watkins, who said she'd been "treated harshly" and is at "particular risk in custody" because she is transgender , will not get to await her trial in home detention, federal Judge Amit Mehta of the DC District Court decided.
Mehta told Watkins directly that he believes there is a continued risk that she will reaffiliate herself with anti-government extremist groups if released. He said Watkins "presents a danger" and eagerly participated in "a historic event that was a real threat to the fabric of our democracy," according to the outlet.
This undated photo provided by the Montgomery County Jail shows Jessica Watkins. Watkins and Donovan Crowl, both from Ohio, are being held at a county jail in Dayton, after being arrested Monday,Jan. 18, 2021. Watkins and Crowl, two self-described militia members, are facing federal charges that they participated in the assault on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. Montgomery County Jail via AP
The 38-year-old Watkins told the judge she is "canceling" her Oath Keepers membership.
"Given the result of everything on January 6 and everything that has come out.... my fellow Oath Keepers have turned my stomach against it. Which is why I'm canceling my Oath Keeper membership," Watkins reportedly said during the court hearing. "I have no desire to continue with people who say things like that."
She apologized to the court and said she was not a "criminally minded person," CNN said.
Court filings suggest that Watkins and other members of the Oath Keepers spent months planning their attack on the Capitol.
In a series of text messages obtained by prosecutors, Watkins and other Oath Keepers appear to detail extensive plans to storm Congress. They may have been planning the attack as early as November.
"It is our duty as Americans to fight, kill and die for our rights," Watkins texted a contact on November 17.
The court documents also said Watkins personally trained recruits to prepare them for the attack.
Authorities believe Watkins to be the leader of the Ohio State Regular Militia, a far-right group that has overlapping membership with other Oath Keepers, Insider reported earlier this week. She is a former Army ranger, Afghanistan war veteran, and volunteer firefighter.
Watkins told the court she would be shutting down the Ohio State Regular Militia to focus on running a bar she owns in the state.
"We're done with that lifestyle," Watkins reportedly said. "I have a struggling small business. I did it out of love for my country, but I think it's time to let that all go and focus on my business."
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She's not a "criminally minded person", she just helped out in a coup attempt against the government. C'mon, give her a break.
Now that reality is staring her in the face, (prison) she is cancelling her membership in the ''Oath Keepers''...BFD hope that she enjoys Cellblock B.
It's that damned "Cancel Culture" spreading...
If she does end up in jail, we can send her those "canceled" (discontinued) racist Dr. Suess books to keep her occupied.
PERFECT!!
as a glass half full optimist, we should really consider turning this growing right wing domestic terrorism problem to our advantage. I recommend letting the elite terrorist fighting groups within our armed forces turn those militia organizations into live fire training exercises. it's a win/win situation for all americans.
I'm all for signing them up for Marine Infantry and sending them to Iraq where the Iranians are lobbing bombs
lets compromise. put them in marine uniforms and drop them directly into iran.
Deal!
Do we reduce the costs and forgo the jump training? The possibility of them getting hurt in training is only slightly less than them just being given a chute and tossed out of the aircraft.
Lets let our resident BAMF of airborne fame give us his recommendation in the matter..... Kavika?
They don't need any stinkin' training. Drop them from 600 ft and see what happens.
Good answer!
I know you're a humanitarian Kavika, so I'm sure you would recommend a static line for the jump at 600ft.... or do you have another hi-tech recommendation?
concrete blocks?
Static line at 600 ft is a combat jump and if your chute doesn't open there is no time for your reserve chute to be opened. You are a lawn dart.
So yours is actually very humane...... Thanks for the clarification......
Do it at night so there is little for them to worry about either way? Besides.... Iran.... lots of sand.... it just might break their fall even from 600 ft.... (ignoring physics of course which isn't their strong suit anyway....)
If any group tries for round two at the take them down with leg or shoulder shots so they can be rounded up and then be prosecuted for treason/insurrection and put away for a very long time.
"round two at the capitol,"
Sorry y'all.
Water is as hard as sand at terminal velocity.
My first flight in a hang glider (untrained) got me high (1000 ft.) and fast enough to crash in a spectacular fashion. Ruined the kite and spent a week in hospital.
Nobody told me about those down drafts or how to deal with them.
Flashback story.
I was going down the 101 Hwy outside of Santa Barbara CA. Suddenly, a pair of legs appeared in my view on the hood of my car. I hit the brakes so hard that I fishtailed and I heard multiple brakes locking. It was a hand glider who lost his air and was aiming to hit the ocean, which he managed to do using my car hood. His glider was trashed and he also ended up in the hospital with a dislocated shoulder and injured knees. He was lucky that he did not go through my windshield.
Meh ... lock her up in a cell full of potato heads.
And throw away the key.
Then throw away the cell.