Oath Keeper member’s attorney says DC residents ‘despise’ conventional US values

The lawyer for one of the Oath Keeper users charged with conspiracy and other crimes in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot is pushing for a venue adjust for the circumstance, arguing that his trial would be unfair mainly because D.C. people “despise” traditional American values. 

In a “motion to transfer venue” submitted in the U.S. District Courtroom for the District of Columbia, the defense team for Navy veteran Thomas Caldwell argues that his situation really should be moved to the federal court docket in the Western District of Virginia. 

The filing, which was initial reported by BuzzFeed News, argued that Washington, D.C., is the “birthplace of ‘The Resistance,’ ” which it outlined as “a loosely organized movement among left-wing activists to thwart President TrumpDonald Trump2 Seattle law enforcement officers illegally trespassed when rioters stormed the Capitol Podcast host Katie Halper: Trump opponents should be in opposition to Assange extradition Hillicon Valley: Warren asks SEC to get nearer seem at cryptocurrency exchanges | Maryland city knocked offline as component of large ransomware assault | Huawei hires a few new lobbying companies Far more’s lawful govt orders and steps.” 

Caldwell’s law firm specifically cited protests encompassing Trump’s 2016 inauguration, alleging that demonstrators ended up seen “destroying firms, cars, and other residence, and attacking Trump supporters.” 

“District citizens not only despise Caldwell’s politics — they despise quite a few items that standard The us stands for,” Caldwell’s lawyer argued. 

The 23-site pleading argues, in essence, that the prosecution is political and the DC jury pool is incapable of supplying a fair verdict. “District inhabitants not only despise Caldwell’s politics—they despise lots of matters that regular The us stands for,” Caldwell claims. pic.twitter.com/a1induoQ8T

— Ken Bensinger (@kenbensinger) July 1, 2021

“District people, who largely model themselves as chic, subtle, worldly, significant-brow urbanites, are repulsed by rural America’s conventional values, patriotism, religion, gun possession, and perceived deficiency of instruction,” the filing added. 

“Conversely, rural America is repulsed by what it perceives as East and West Coastline progressive snobbery, addiction to government funding, deficiency of ethical values, and petulant intolerance for individuals with diverse viewpoints,” the motion mentioned, including, “To deny that the lion’s share of possible District jurors will be remarkably predisposed towards a Trump-supporting defendant is like denying that h2o is liquid.” 

The submitting argued that Caldwell “should be judged on the information of the circumstance and the legislation, not on his prior help for President Trump.” 

Caldwell, who faces 4 felony expenses like conspiracy, alleges that not only was there no prepare to storm the Capitol but that he was not an Oath Keeper. Prosecutors observe he was in repeated conversation with Oath Keeper management top up to Jan. 6.

— Ken Bensinger (@kenbensinger) July 1, 2021

Caldwell, as nicely as extra alleged Oath Keeper customers these types of as Jessica Marie Watkins and Donovan Crowl, have every single been billed with conspiracy to “stop, hold off and hinder Congress’s certification of the Electoral College or university vote.”

On top of that, Caldwell faces a collection of other prices, such as obstruction to an official processing, destruction of federal government residence, and entering and remaining in a limited space. 

Prosecutors have zeroed in on various customers of the Oath Keepers, a significantly-ideal paramilitary group, amongst the 500 billed in link with the mob attack on the Capitol constructing as lawmakers satisfied to certify President BidenJoe BidenJohn Kerry to stop by Moscow officers to discuss ‘global local weather ambition’ Civil legal rights leaders obtain conference with WH ‘encouraging’ amidst voting rights battle Pentagon eyes places to ship Afghan interpreters as Biden pledges evacuations by close of July Much more’s 2020 presidential election acquire. 

In a February court filing, prosecutors alleged that Caldwell, who was produced on bond in March owing to well being concerns, primary up to the riot proposed a system to transport “heavy weapons” in a boat across the Potomac River in a information to a member of the A few Percenters, an extremist gun legal rights militia.

Caldwell was also located to have been in interaction with Oath Keeper leadership foremost up to Jan. 6, according to prosecutors.