Thread by @julie_kelly2

Hearing up now in Oath Keepers case. Judge Mehta presiding. This will deal with the newest indictment for "seditious conspiracy," which I wrote about here.

amgreatness.com/2022/01/20/the…

The 3 DC detainees are on phone via gulag. Sounds like Stewart Rhodes also on the conference line.

Jessica Watkins has a new attorney, Jonathan Crisp, who also is representing Tim Hale.

DOJ dismissing previous indictment against 9 OK defendants facing new sedition charges.

This is the new indictment; defendants now being arraigned.

Rhodes pleads not guilty on all charges.

All will plead not guilty.
What is odd to me is that DOJ isn't seeking pretrial detention for the remaining "seditious conspirators" who are not detained. I mean, they tried to overthrow the government "with force," right?

Now that 3 detained defendants (Meggs, Harrelson, Watkins) are in new indictment with new defendants, I have no doubt Mehta will AGAIN move their trial date from April into the summer. (He already moved it from January to April.)

They will have been incarcerated for over a year.

Rhodes is currently detained in Texas. Something weird went down in his hearing yesterday and the judge is expected to rule today or tomorrow. Will see if DOJ, as it's done in numerous cases, petition DC District court to overrule Texas judge if he releases Rhodes.

BTW here is the grand conspiracy, not just causing the horrific six-hour delay in certifying the electoral college but also attempting to interfere in Biden's inauguration 14 days later.

3 of the men were inside for less than five minutes.

Mehta asking DOJ about April trial date given the new indictment.

DOJ says defense atty for detained defendants would be "more comfortable" with a July trial date.

Slow walking discovery, preventing access to evidence, and new indictments pay off for DOJ!

DOJ "not sure global discovery" will be available for April trial date and more case specific discovery will be produced over next 4-6 weeks. April trial date is "imprudent."

Rhodes' lawyer says April date is too early.

Mehta wants to move other OK defendants to April trial

Those defense attys said they won’t be ready bc training for DOJ discovery platform won’t be until next month. One atty noted discovery delays for “months and months.”

Another lawyer says he still doesn’t have most of the discovery in his case.

What a total sh*tshow.

Mehta now scolding defense, claiming they’ve had case specific discovery “for months” which contradict even what DOJ said.

He’s keeping April 19 trial for 5 (I think, missed a few names) defendants.

Mehta allowed DOJ delay after delay now switches trial dates and blames defense

Mehta claims defense has had discovery for “months and months and months” which is flat-out not true.

Also notes a “public interest” in trials moving forward.

Moves seditious conspiracy trial to July 11. Another backup trial date in September.

Defense attorney again pushes back on Mehta’s (untrue) claim defendants have had case specific discovery for “months.” Atty asks for discovery deadline (they’ve asked before). Mehta says no.

Another lawyer reminds court that several Oath Keepers also charged in civil cases