Thread by @DirkSchwenk

I AM SO EXCITED to be threading about actual arrests for SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY. So goddamn excited. The wait has been scary for us all. ITS FELONY FRIDAY one day early. Let's crack open the lid. justice.gov/opa/pr/leader-…

I did a thread last year while longing for this moment. It has a few points worth recalling: First, what is sedition? Felony titled "Advocating overthrow of Government" its "overthrowing or destroying the government of the US or ... State ... subdivision ... by force or violence

SCOTUS has already affirmed, over 1st Amendment objection, the validity of the crime "The obvious purpose of the statute is to protect existing Government, not from change by peaceable, lawful and constitutional means, but from change by violence, revolution and terrorism."

"Whatever theoretical merit there may be to the argument that there is a ‘right’ to rebellion against dictatorial governments is without force where the existing structure of the government provides for peaceful and orderly change." Dennis v. US

So VIOLENCE is the key. You can talk about change all you want; you can plan to create change ... but once you step over into violence ... seditious conspiracy is a possible future. That is why I haven't talked too much about the J6 evidence leaks - we need to connect to violence

The new charges are against the Oath Keepers, which we already know recruits from police and military ... so its REALLY important that those folks stop f'n around in sedition ... and you'd think that all lawful ones would now be distancing themselves.

After November 3, Rhodes and others hatched a plan to use violence to stop the transfer of power. Those plans included ammassing firearms and stocking Quick Response Teams on the outskirts of DC.

(We are ALL still wondering what happened to the QRFs. Were they intercepted? Did their orders never come? Why didn't they deploy? We don't know yet).

At the Capitol, Oath Keepers were armed, and the famous Stack 1 forced its way inside, split up with half going to the Senate and half to house to hunt Nancy Pelosi.

I don't remember seeing this detail: There were multiple QRF teams coordinated by Thomas Caldwell and Edward Vallejo.

BUTT CLENCH ALERT: Read these "manner and means" by which the conspiracy took place: How many in DC did this?

The first half of the "manner and means" is great too

Pretty sure that openly calling for civil war then attacking Congress are pretty good evidence against you:

Rhodes published a call to violence on the Oath Keepers website. D'oh. He thought that the police and military would switch sides after they attacked them. Double D'oh.

The DOJ has all their stupid signal chats. "It will be a bloody and desperate fight. We are going to have to fight."

They were pretty serious about trying to get a boat to transport weapons and the QRF across from VA.

Vallejo's Quick Response Force HQ was the Comfort Inn Balston. I feel like there's a joke there.

At 2:24 PM, as the attack was unfolding at the Capitol, Vallejo was ready to go.

He really wanted to go. With all of their long guns and sidearms. He was ready.

And strangely, that's the last we hear of Vallejo until the leaders have a nice dinner by the motel presumably and continue spewing seditious rantings.

Vallejo set out for the Capitol on the morning of the 5th. Maybe recalled by Rhodes. Hard to tell.

Hysterical. The FBI has them planning to try to get all armed up flee to the hills of Kentucky. I wonder whose property it was?

My god the stupid. Wray and Garland have these wackos dead to rights. This is what "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" looks like.

OK, that was fun, but let's ask the big question: WHO IS NEXT UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND? The indictment mentions the defendants purchasing thousands of dollars in weapons and ammo -did someone underwrite this? Who else knew? I can't wait to find (and I really hope it was Ginni T)

Count 4 is conspiracy to prevent an Officer from Discharging their duties. This one doesn't require violence ... so all y'all in on the Jan 6 attempt to pressure Pence are on it. Dirk out.

Oh FFS