Capitol riots: Far-right leader pleads guilty to trying to overthrow government
The leader of the Alabama chapter of the right-wing Oath Keepers militia group pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to charges of seditious conspiracy and obstruction related to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Joshua James, 34, pleaded guilty to the charges stemming from his role in leading the assault on the Capitol, the US Department of Justice announced in a news release on Wednesday.
He is the first person involved in the deadly assault on the US Capitol to be convicted of seditious conspiracy, a rarely used charge considered to be a serious but lesser form of treason.
James, a co-defendant in a criminal case involving Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, pleaded guilty Wednesday, which could potentially cause issues for the 10 others named in the criminal case accused of working to prevent the the transfer of presidential power to Joe Biden following his win against Trump.
James, a Purple Heart recipient in the military, was originally arrested in March of last year for his alleged participation in the riot. He will cooperate with the investigation that is already underway as part of the agreement, the news release said.
He faces up to nine years in prison and up to a $300,000 fine, according to the deal read during Wednesday’s hearing.
During the hearing, James admitted that he and other members of the Oath Keepers had planned to storm the Capitol with the explicit goal of stopping the certification of the 2020 Electoral College vote, according to CNN.
‘Do you agree that in taking such actions, you were trying to influence the conduct of the United States government or retaliate against the United States government?’ federal Judge Amit Mehta asked during the hearing.
‘Yes sir’ James said in response.
James reportedly had chauffeured Roger Stone, a longtime friend of Trump, in a golf cart in Washington DC the day before January 6. Stone has not been accused of any crime.
The Capitol attack left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer who died the next day.
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