Six more people affiliated with the extremist Oath Keepers group have been arrested and charged for their alleged roles in last month's Capitol riots, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The six women and men arrested this week in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio are said to have collaborated with three other suspects who were already indicted in January.
They face various charges, including conspiring to obstruct congressional certification of the result of the 2020 presidential election.
In total, nine individuals with alleged ties to the right-wing group, which often use militia tactics, have been charged with conspiring to commit an offence against the United States.
According to the prosecutors, seven of the men and women wore paramilitary gear on January 6 and marched up the stairs of the Congress building in a military-style "stack" formation before breaking through the doors.
The indictment alleges that one of the suspects, who describes themself as the leader of the Oath Keepers in Florida, wrote in a Facebook message in late December: "Trump said It's gonna be wild!!!!!!! It's gonna be wild!!!!!!! He wants us to make it WILD that's what he's saying. He called us all to the Capitol and wants us to make it wild!!! Sir Yes Sir!!!"
Last Saturday, the Senate acquitted former president Donald Trump in an impeachment trial over his role in the deadly Capitol riots.
He had been charged with incitement of an insurrection, alleging his baseless allegations of voter fraud and speech during a rally on January 6 had propelled a deadly mob to storm the US Capitol.
Australian Associated Press
