Indiana Oath Keeper Indicted on Federal Conspiracy Charges In Connection With Jan 6th Riot
A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., has indicted an Indiana member of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group with conspiracy and other charges for his role in the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol. At least 11 other people with Indiana ties have also been arrested and charged in connection with the riot.
The indictment unsealed Friday charges Michael Greene of Indianapolis with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and tampering with documents or proceedings, prosecutors said. Greene was arrested in Indiana on Thursday and made his initial court appearance late Friday afternoon.
Greene, who has also used the name Michael Simmons, was named in a superseding indictment returned Wednesday that also includes seven previously charged defendants from Ohio, Florida, and North Carolina. All have pleaded not guilty.
Remember that one time Enrique Tarrio (Proud Boys), Stewart Rhodes (Oath Keepers), Kellye SoRelle (Oath Keepers), and Bianca Gracia (Latinos For Trump) met in a parking garage on January 5th? pic.twitter.com/yjO5JjLFyj
— Gabe Sanchez (@iamgabesanchez) March 15, 2022
Concurrently, U.S. prosecutors asked a judge on Wednesday to launch an ethics inquiry into whether defense lawyers for prominent members of the Oath Keepers are improperly allowing an attorney closely allied with Donald Trump to help pay their legal fees. The DOJ’s court filing cited media reports alleging that the legal fees for Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes are being paid by Defending the Republic, an entity controlled by Sidney Powell, an attorney who played a key role in Trump’s attempt to overturn his election defeat. The group is also paying fees for Oath Keeper defendants Kelly Meggs, Connie Meggs, and Kenneth Harrelson, the DOJ’s filing said. If true, the payments would violate professional conduct rules limiting compensation methods for attorneys in the District of Columbia.
😃 DOJs court filing cited media reports alleging that the legal fees for Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes are being paid by Defending the Republic, an entity controlled by Sidney Powell… also paying for Oath Keeper defendants Kelly Meggs, Connie Meggs and Kenneth Harrelson. https://t.co/1eyoedQzCX pic.twitter.com/26QVMCYooX
— Justice (@Loveon999) June 24, 2022
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