WASHINGTON (AP) — The trial of a far-right extremist group chief and 4 associates charged within the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol was delayed on Monday after the Oath Keepers chief examined constructive for the coronavirus.
Jurors have been supposed to start listening to the fourth week of testimony within the case towards Stewart Rhodes and 4 others accused of plotting to cease the switch of energy from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden.
Testimony might resume Tuesday morning if Rhodes waives his proper to be current in court docket for at the least a few of the remaining authorities witnesses. The choose mentioned he believes the earliest Rhodes can return to court docket is subsequent Monday.
Prosecutors have been initially anticipated to relaxation their case by the top of this week after which Rhodes’ attorneys have been going to start placing on their protection.
Rhodes’ attorneys have mentioned their shopper will take the stand to testify that every one of his actions have been in anticipation of orders he anticipated from Trump — orders that by no means got here.
The defendants are the primary amongst a whole bunch charged within the Capitol assault to face trial on the cost of seditious conspiracy, a uncommon Civil Struggle-era cost that carries a most sentence of 20 years in jail.
Prosecutors have mentioned Rhodes and his extremist group deliberate an “armed rebel” to maintain Trump in energy. Authorities say they’d “fast response drive” groups stationed at a Virginia lodge to get weapons into town rapidly in the event that they have been wanted and that the group was ready to cease Biden from turning into president by any means vital.
Protection attorneys have accused prosecutors of cherry-picking messages and have mentioned they got here to supply safety to political figures like Roger Stone, to not perform a plan to assault the Capitol.
Testimony started on Oct. 3 and the choose had mentioned witnesses might stretch into the week of Nov. 14. The stakes are excessive for the Justice Division, which final secured a seditious conspiracy conviction at trial almost 30 years in the past and intends to attempt two extra teams on the cost later this yr.
The disruption comes virtually every week after a juror was dismissed after testing constructive for COVID. The federal courthouse in Washington the place the trial is being held final week lifted its masks mandate, however the choose overseeing the trial was nonetheless requiring these not chatting with put on masks to keep away from an outbreak. Nonetheless, attorneys and defendants have been often seen with noses uncovered or masks pulled down below their chin.
On trial with Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, are Kelly Meggs, chief of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers; Kenneth Harrelson, one other Florida Oath Keeper; Thomas Caldwell, a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer from Virginia; and Jessica Watkins, who led an Ohio militia group. They face a number of different fees as nicely.
They’re amongst roughly 900 individuals who have been charged within the assault, which briefly halted the certification of Biden’s victory, despatched lawmakers working for canopy and left dozens of law enforcement officials injured.
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