Day 22 of Oath Keepers Trial - Nov 7
Good morning! We’re about to begin WEEK SIX of the Oath Keepers trial. Stewart Rhodes will likely be on the stand all day. At the conclusion of Friday’s testimony, counsel was just about to steer Rhodes into his own narrative of what he was doing on the Big Day, itself. Media room is full, TV cameras have all the exits staked out, and I’m told there are two full rows of school children in the courtroom gallery today.
***On a SIDE NOTE: do you think tomorrow’s expected Red Wave will have any impact on Judge Mehta’s temperament come Wednesday morning, and throughout the remainder of the trial? I’m interested in your thoughts. (Asking that question here, in media room earns nothing but blank stares.)
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Mehta enters courtroom at 9:35am . . .
Nestler opens to complain that he’s only received witness lists for Rhodes and Watkins. Needs others, ASAP. Woodward rises to state new revelations of FBI’s having embedded investigators in OKs well before J6, and that the government is refusing to turn over evidence is a major problem for the defense. Motions soon to be filed.
Jury seated at 9:40am. Rhodes back on stand. Linder resumes direct. Opens with discussion about national political hostilities and violence leading up to what would be the Million MAGA March on Nov. 14th. All the chats leading up to MMM rally had nothing to do with J6, as it had not even been announced yet.
Rhodes appointed the ‘lead’ for MMM rally - a current LEO John Shirley (constable) from Houston - to handle all the personal security detail, and Michael Greene. (Whip) Linder asks Rhodes to explain his understanding of how the Insurrection Act could have been used as early as even Nov. 14th, 2020. “As he understands” that law and the make-up of the militia as currently understood, as well as “his understanding” of how the Insurrection Act should, could, and has been used throughout history.
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Back to MMM rally, discusses the primary mission of providing PSDs for VIP speakers. Had been providing PSDs for six prior events in DC - before MMM. OKs do not apply for permits. That is the obligation of the event organizers, and then the OKs respond to those organizers who request them for PSDs, in which the OKs them provide volunteer PSDs. “We protect the event, the speakers, and the audience on their way back to hotels and Metro transportation” . . . usually from Antifa activities.
Never has OKs ever used weapons or violence in their PSD duties. Leading up to the next rally on Dec. 12th - The Jericho March - Rhodes continued to publicly encourage Trump to invoke Insurrection Act. OKs had people at this event from all over the country. Provided assist To Gen. Flynn’s security detail, and audience security. Had no designated QRF for this rally, but did announce they had one on the ready as a “psyop” for Antifa’s consumption.
Rhodes says he has carried firearms his entire life, and in fact was carrying when he was first interviewed by FBI Agent Palian, with no incident or concern. No OK has ever been charged for a firearm violation in history of organization. As a general rule, Rhodes appoints other OK leaders to head up their ops at events, leaving him free to speak at the events themselves, and he prefers to keep low profile otherwise.
Discussion of PSD ops at Stop the Steal rally in Atlanta for Ali Alexander and other speakers.
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Discussion of his two published open letters to then President Trump, encouraging him to expose corruption through the declassification of massive amounts of data from NSA and other three letter agencies, as well as encouragement to invoke IA.
Discussion of how and when they open new Signal ops chats for specific events, and then let them die after event is concluded. When did he begin planning for J6? Only after the president announced on Dec. 19th. How many event organizers and speakers contacted OKs for security? Latinos for Trump, Blacks for Trump, Virginia Women for Trump, etc. There were 7-8 mini-stages around the event, with various PSDs, directly or indirectly attended to. Ali Alexander’s event. PSD for Roger Stone, and others.
Discussion of how Rhodes instructed all OKs to NOT bring anything illegal into DC. Also that he invited Meggs to bring their weapons to his hotel, because of very secure location. Rhodes denies knowledge that Vallejo was going to head up the QRF at VA hotel room. Also says he never saw the “Ready to Roll” messages until later the evening of J6. Denies that the QRF had any purpose on J6 except for and unless Trump invoked IA. Otherwise, the only purpose for available and waiting truck was to evacuate medical emergencies.
Rhodes had no contact with either Watkins or Caldwell on J6, and only learned Watkins had been in Capitol building after a reporter had doxxed her. Rhodes estimates approximately 100 OKs were in DC on J6 - including the 40 from NC who had recently separated from the national org.
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Descriptions of the various PSD teams assigned. Which state’s groups to which stages or VIPs they were assigned. Then describes his own movements throughout the day. Had no comms with Caldwell and others who went into building. First received reports of barricade breaches about 1:45pm. At which point they had retreated to one of the other OK’s hotel rooms to warm up and eat. After seeing reports of problems at Capitol, he and Sorrell then started making their way toward the Capitol.
Dario - from FL - had a falling out with Meggs, and Rhodes invited him to hang out with him all day. Said, “He wasn’t my body guard. I don’t need a body guard.” (Said directly to jury, with a smile on his face.) Continues to specifically describe which group of OKs were assigned to which groups of VIPs to escort them from Ellipse to permitted events on Capitol grounds. He learned that Roger Stone had decided not to leave his hotel room. Rhodes then saw that the stage and sound systems for those other events were not set up, and he became concerned about OKs being “off mission.” (“Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”)
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Rhodes was trying to get messages out to OKs to round them up - NOT to “storm the Capitol” but in fact “Just the opposite.” Because of size of crowds, cell communication and other coms were virtually impossible to send or receive. Only heard about any OKs having entered Capitol after having hooked up with Meggs after their group exited. Never was “going into the Capitol” part of the mission of the OKs that day, and certainly no plans to disrupt the election that day. Neither implied or direct instructions to any OK. When he was finally able to round up OKs, he thinks he got about 20 of them to join him. Which comports with his message telling them that if they had “completed their mission” to join him. Rhodes confirms Dolan’s testimony that Rhodes told him it was “stupid” for them to have entered the Capitol. Rhodes congratulated NO ONE for going in. Ordered NO ONE to go in. The exact opposite.
Several of the guys met for dinner at Olive Garden, and then they split up to go back to their respective hotels. The discussion at dinner had nothing to do with ‘celebrating’ going into the Capitol - just Rhodes’ own “broken record” of Insurrection Act talk.
Describes conversation with Sorrell the next day in which she encouraged him to shut off his phone until they got back to TX. She felt, him just being the leader of OKs was enough of a target for the “black hats’’ to target him.
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Then the questions go to the parking lot meeting in which the conversation was recorded and turned over the FBI. Confirms that if he’d had intentions to stop the election he’d of had OKs come in much larger numbers and fully-armed . . . which is the opposite of what actually happened. He confirms that his rhetoric about the Insurrection Act ended after January 20th inauguration, because with Biden now president, it no longer mattered.
Questions about his first FBI interview. Was a surprise meeting, but cordial. Rhodes had two weapons on him, which didn’t concern the agents. Agent Palian was secretly recording the conversation. They asked for Rhodes’ phone, which he voluntarily handed over to them with pass code. Rhodes had never deleted any of his Signal chats.
Now asking about other defendant, Caldwell. How and where they met. Caldwell had offered his farm as a staging area for DC events. Rhodes had no idea Caldwell was in DC for J6.
Rhodes has known Meggs, Harrelson, and Watkins since Louisville, KY protest op. Describes what a great job they did there, and how they were able to turn around those who were hostile to them in KY as soon as they realized the OKs weren’t ‘against’ them, but there to actually ‘protect’ them and their neighbors’ property.
Sam Andrews - who issued messages and rhetoric calling for large groups to bring arms - had no part in OKs at the time - and those messages were not authorized by Rhodes.
Mehta calls for morning break at 10:58am . . . jury dismissed.
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Mehta calls AUSA Rakoczy to discuss the four emails issued on Friday for potential evidence, and might use one particular email in which it is alleged Rhodes wanted to “bait” Antifa in the Portland/Vancouver, WA area for violence. Mehta asks if there is an objection from defense. Linder argues this is a completely unrelated event and irrelevant to J6 … and Mehta shoots him down. Mehta “thinks” he remembers having heard about this being disclosed in some other form, and therefore is inclined to admit it. Woodward is arguing that the government has had this evidence for over two years, and is ONLY NOW bringing it to the defense’s attention. Woodward brings up another piece of only recently disclosed information about confidential human sources the FBI used against OKs. Woodward is also trying to justify defense cross exam questions based on possible inculpatory statements made by Rhodes about Meggs being “off mission.” Geyer also wants to cross Rhodes about his knowledge of Harrelson’s location at various times on J6. Those seem to have been approved.
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***OFF THE RECORD break time comments:
1 - “Looks like throwing certain individuals under the bus has begun.”
2- “The jury looks bored, disinterested, and doesn’t believe him. [Rhodes] Like . . . just get on with it.”
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Mehta back in courtroom at 11:31, and brings Rhodes back to stand. Jury seated at 11:33am.
Linder resumes direct. Rhodes had no idea from his vantage point outside Capitol, he had no ideas that LEOs were being assaulted. Didn’t realize scope of all that happened until watching news later. He totally agrees with prosecution of anyone who assaulted LEOs that day.
Linder is done. Woodward - for Meggs - takes over questioning and asks how long he’d known Meggs . . . “since Louisville op.” Meggs is not former LEO or military, but had proven himself as an “associate’ member. Asked why he testified Meggs “off mission.” Rhodes said all those who entered Capitol were off mission. Asked about mission of Louisville and Nov. MMM rally in DC. Meggs mission was to protect Area 8 side stage and to escort VIPs from Ellipse to Capitol.
Asked if protecting people from violence INSIDE Capitol might not be part of their “mission” that day. We see the messages again that an OK sent to “protect those n the building from violence, including members and staff.” Rhodes would call that an OK “standing order,” and not a specific order that day.
Three times Woodward tried to ask about Meggs protecting Dunn inside Capitol, got three sustained objections, and then Mehta instructed him to leave that to the jury to decide.
No more questions . . . .
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Geyer - for Harrelson - begins asking question about Rhodes’ relationship with Sam Andrews, and Rhodes describes acrimonious falling out of their relationship, and then having dismissed him from OKs. Describes Andrews warning to organizing a march of armed black veterans, but Andrews’ rhetoric was threatening to LEOs, and seemed to be wanting violent confrontation with LEOs. They split over those conversations. Geyer asks the court to enter three videos into evidence , for Rhodes to identify Andrews’ activities at Capitol that day.
First video is of Andrews walking in front of place of initial west side barricade breach, long before that breach occurred. Rhodes agrees the size, gait, and manner os that of Andrews. Second video is of Andrews walking down Constitution Av., and Rhodes identifies him. Third video, is Capitol CCTV of crowd gathering outside of East side barricades, and is able to identify same individual (Andrews) and with the same group of individuals from previous videos.
No more questions . . .
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AUSA Rakoczy begins government cross of Rhodes. She begins asking him about the founding of the OKs, and the significance of the date (April 19th) and site - to commemorate the “shot heard around the world.” That he went on Alex Jones to celebrate the launch of OKs. Etc. Gov. shows image of Battle of Lexington that Rhodes used to promote formation of OKs. Then, plays video/audio of Rhodes appearing on Alex Jones in 2009 to promote founding of OKs.
Rakoczy tries to get him to admit to founding OKs for forced opposition to government. Then asked about their participation with Bundy ranch conflict. Rakoczy says Rhodes “bragged” about number of men, weapons, night vision, etc. they supplied to support that event. Rakoczy asks if he announced he’d intended to use those rifles against government agents. Rhodes said he would if federal agents escalated the standoff to the level of the Waco, Tx event.
Gov plays another video of a speech he’d made describing the Bundy ranch event, which the audio for us in media room was not easy to hear. One has to assume, it must have been rather inflammatory toward government agencies.
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Rakoczy now speaks of OKs armed members at Berkley, CA event. She implies Rhodes tried to bait violent protestors so they could use their firearms. Rhodes pushes back, and denies that is ever their purpose. Rakoczy then asks him about armed OKs defending salon that had been in violation of COVID lockdowns, and implied they were helping oppose government orders. Rhodes pushed back and explains they did not provide protection services to salon until after Supreme Court allowed it to reopen, and that they were there to prevent arson at facility. Rakoczy then asks series of questions about OKs carrying arms.
Questions turn to Ferguson, MO protests, where OKs took positions on top of roofs in Ferguson. Gov shows photo of OK on top of roof with both a rifle and shotgun loaded with bean bags. Rakoczy asks about sheriff asking them to leave because they are unlicensed. Rhodes explains they were allowed back after hiring attorneys who showed the sheriff they were incorrect about the law, and the OKs were allowed back.
Rakoczy is quite confrontational in her questioning. Rhodes disagrees with most all her negative assertions and implications. Gov shows Rhodes an old chat about “cracking” heads, in which they did not show it all in context - Rhodes pushes back at her several mischaracterizations of his messages. Literally misquoting the text, until he pushes back and reads what he actually said. She reads part of the messages . . . he reads the rest . . . which puts them in less inflammatory context.
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Another video is presented of OKs in parking lot in Louisville, KY. Showing Rhodes, Doug Smith, and Michael Greene. Then proceeds to show Watkins and Siniff. She tries to discount that they were being verbally accosted . . . which the video clearly proves otherwise. Rakoczy them tries to imply they were more interested in protecting their own vehicles than anything else. She proceeds to show more OKs, including Meggs. She then says they are doing more to “inflame” the situation than help. Rhodes disagrees.
Then Rakoczy brings up an event in FL for a hurricane events, in which she claims OKs pretended to be police officers and arrested. Rhodes say they were an actual security company wearing security uniforms, and were not OKs, but had been assisting in some of their relief efforts.
Now playing audio we’ve previously seen about what was legal to carry in DC; spray, stun guns, lead pipe, even his own helmet. Rakoczy once again says they used tactics to “bait Antifa” into violence. Rhodes denies, and says those are for protecting themselves, not baiting.
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Gov shows knife store purchases of steel canes, pistol grip walking sticks. She references previous testimony in which Rhodes was accused of saying they should dress up as old people to bait Antifa. Rhodes says they misinterpreted what he was saying to them.
Gov claims one OK pointed a weapon at someone in Louisville. She is showing him old chat messages related to Louisville, and follow-up on how the op went, describing an incident where Doug Smith did in fact point a weapon at someone. Rhodes says he had forgotten that chat, but does now remember the incident. Smith was reprimanded and “rehabilitated,” and remained in leadership of NC group. Admits he did say differently during direct.
Rakoczy begins taking Rhodes through chats related to prior DC events, but Mehta interrupts for lunch break. Mehta dismisses jury for lunch at 12:46pm, and brings up the Portland-related messages that were objected to by defense. Mehta once again says he recalls reading something about that event long ago, and that defense counsel likely remembers as well, so this is likely not a last minute revelation by government. Bright is arguing, but he is not in the mic, so we can’t hear. Mehta will look at whatever was just presented over lunch. Dismisses everyone at 12:52pm.
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Mehta back at 1:56pm, and immediately calls a sidebar. Jury reseated at 2:02pm.
Rakoczy continues cross of Rhodes . . . begins questions about planned OK op in Portland/Vancouver, WA area. The questions are pressing Rhodes to admit to ‘baiting’ Antifa. He denies.
Rakoczy is now asking about OKs being a non-profit, the fact he draws a salary, and she presses him on his use of OK credit card for personal expenses. She mentions OK board member who had resigned over his use of OK money for personal expenses. Rhodes responds, “That’s fair to say.” She then asks him if he failed to file personal income taxes from 2008 to 2020?
Objection . . . <sidebar> . . . Rakoczy returns and has abandoned that line of questioning. (Apparently sustained.)
She picks up questions about his opposition to the results of 2020 election. “You’ve repeatedly referred to the Biden administration as Chi-Com puppets?” . . . . “That’s correct.”
Rakoczy asks questions about Kellye Sorrell having claimed to see multiple containers of ballots being wheeled in an election fraud scheme. Wasn’t it TV news camera gear? “Not what she said.”
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Rakoczy begins showing message slides we’ve already seen in which he encourages OKs to be prepared to arm-up and fight . . . at which Rhodes maintains these were only in the event Trump invoked the IA. Referencing Serbian patriot words:
“Refuse to accept it, and march on the Capitol”
“Complete civil disobedience, they are not your representatives.”
“Swarm the streets…”
“We stormed the Parliament”
“It has to happen now.”
He says all this is under condition of Trump invoking IA. She says, “You don’t say that here.”
Rhodes: “That’s what I meant.”
This is repeated several times. (Media room giggles.)
Questions about Million MAGA March and OKs’ QRF. Rakoczy says it was to assault the government. Rhodes denies, and says it was to protect the White House in case of a Benghazi style attack.
More questions about his open letter to Trump to invoke IA and declassify NSA, CIA, FBI data for the purpose of exposing corruption in those agencies.
“For the purpose of showing they are pedophiles?”
“Yes, among other things.”
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Rakoczy continues to press Rhodes on his demands for Trump to invoke IA, and his second open letter to Trump . . . and his encouragement of his “followers” to be prepared to use arms to oppose transfer of power. It’s a constant back and forth of Rakoczy quoting from Rhodes’ remarks and Rhodes saying those were all conditional on Trump invoking IA. Three times, on three different dates, she says, “Trump didn’t invoke the Insurrection Act, did he.” Rhodes responded each time: “Unfortunately not.”
Arguments over the details and intent of the contents of his open letter. Rhodes constantly refers to the “unconstitutional election.” He expresses his disappointment that SCOTUS “illegitimately” refused to hear the PA challenge to the election result.
On Dec. 23rd, in open letter, he declares his concern Congress will fail to defend the Constitution by stopping the certification. Rakoczy reads several passages on what he believed should happen after January 6th. After SCOTUS refused to hear challenges from 20 states, he believes Trump had a responsibility to step forward and invoke IA because of the “unconstitutional” election of 2020, and that it was a “tragic mistake” for Trump to wait until January 6, because Congress and McConnell would “stab him in the back.” He believes McConnell is compromised by the ties of McConnell’s wife to the communist party of China.
More chat messages and texts:
“Either Trump gets off his ass” . . . invokes insurrection act . . . or he’ll be “preparing for the worst.”
“They won’t fear us until we come with rifles in hand.”
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Now gov wants to enter video of Rhodes interview with FBI Agent Palian into evidence. Rhodes expresses surprise that the interview was videoed. Defense objects. <sidebar> Rhodes jokes that the image shows that he needed to go on a diet. Short clip of the video is shown, in which he says he doubted Trump would invoke IA.
Signal chats to OK FL Hangout shown where he is talking about being prepared to do their duty should Trump fail.
Rakoczy now asks about how many weapons they brought to DC? He says we didn’t. They were brought to VA, and he didn’t know total number. She asks how many weapons he brought. Two rifles and couple handguns. 100s of round of ammo? Yes. Then she goes back to discussion and planning of QRF. (More chats and messages.) Lincoln memorial is rally point “should sh-t hit the fan.” Discussions of ingress and egress routes for QRF, and coordination from Meggs about QRF location, rally points, and such.
Rakoczy tries to pin Rhodes on “the buck stops with him.” He says, “Not when they go off mission.”
Rakoczy: “That’s convenient.” . . . “Aren’t you CEO for life?”
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Rakoczy tries to allege Rhodes was calling his “followers TO the Capitol.”
“No . . . I was calling them to ME, if they were off mission.”
Rhodes then went back to listing all the PSDs they had for that day, and that any other messages indicating OKs need to be ready for armed action was ONLY for after January 6 and if Trump invokes IA. That the ONLY mission for J6 was their PSDs.
The two - Rakoczy and Rhodes - literally bicker over content and meaning of content of message slides. Rakoczy continues to frame every question as though his words were intended to indicate needed armed action ON J6. Rhodes continues to say all of it was contingent on Trump and IA, OR what their responsibilities might be AFTER January 6. But . . . never on the day.
Rakoczy goes back to chats about QRF preparedness planning either truck or boat transport of weapons if needed. She’s trying to pin him on the knowledge he had of the QRF planning. (Now playing more from the FBI hidden camera interview.) He says he didn’t know about NC group’s QRF planning to FBI agent, while some messages were by those very guys. He denies seeing all the messages that were discussed by other OKs.
Mehta calls for afternoon break at 3:12pm . . .
Mehta tells gov he is going to Sustain defense objection about Rhodes tax returns.
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SIDE NOTE: On Friday, in a discussion with some of the attorneys about who would go after Rhodes in cross-exam, they universally expected it would be Nestler. I argued “no.” They would choose Rakoczy, because Rhodes would be less inclined to strike back verbally at a woman, and would show her more deference in his responses. Rhodes has of course not hesitated to disagree with her assertions about intent and operational planning, but I’m pretty sure he’d have responded to Nestler with a lot more edge.
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Back in session from break at 3:34pm . . . Rakoczy immediately goes to questions about Rhodes returning to Capitol after lunch on J6, and she tries to get him to admit he moved into areas on Capitol grounds that were previously restricted. He only says he knew about barricade breaches on west side, but was unaware of previously breached barricades on east side. Rakoczy tries to get him to admit that he called off-mission OKs to meet him on NE side of Capitol. She says, “you called them TO the Capitol.” He says, “No, I called them to meet me if they were not on their Mission.” (PSDs)
Rakoczy enters chat logs into evidence that Rhodes immediately recognizes has times as being ONE full hour too early, and therefore the context of the remarks are completely immaterial. She tries to get him to “assume” the times are correct. Rhodes will have none of it, telling her the entire log is immaterial to the comments made by virtue of the timelines being off by an hour.
She shows him his messages describing the event as Tea Party-like. No weapons fire, but “street fighting” just like the early Patriots . . . and that “Lexington” would be next. He admits to identifying the “fighters” as Trump supporters and “patriots.”
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Another exhibit represented in which Rhodes vigorously objects to the timestamp. She argues that no one else objected when previously brought into evidence. She shows message he sent to Meggs where to meet him at Capitol. Argumentative exchange as she tries to imply he was calling OKs TO the Capitol, and he continues to say I was calling those off-mission to come to ME.
Gov now showing a video of OK stack moving toward Capitol, while showing Rhodes on west side of Capitol. Exhibits of videos and maps which showed movement of various OK parties approaching Capitol, when Rhodes taking a call from Meggs, which he claimed he could not hear because of the crowd noise, and then tried to merge call with Michael Greene while Rhodes tried to find a quitter location. Call lasted 90 seconds. Could never get a clear signal to Meggs, but was able to hear Greene.
Rakoczy says Meggs’ stack “breached” the building at 2:41. He argues they did not “breach” the building. “They walked through doors that had been opened from the other side.”
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New exhibits to be admitted, going all the way back to November 7 of 2020. Then jumps to message on evening of January 6th, and warned them to be careful with their speech. “Anything you say can and will be used against you. Expect it.”
More chats from evening of J6, in which Rhodes makes comparisons of what happened that day to events in nation’s founding, and still saying he hoped Trump got the message that day, and will act. As well as warnings that were likely to get worse than what they’d seen that day.
At the Olive Garden, Rhodes said Joshua James misrepresented what had happened in his exchange with LEOs inside Capitol. Rhodes says he’d never condone that behavior and Rakoczy claimed “unless it was directed at officers at Bundy Ranch.” (Whew boy. Argument ensues.) Rhodes basically reads her the riot act on what really happened in that op, including the OKs having brought active duty sheriffs with them as part of their plan to deter federal agents from firing on them.
Rhodes had heard that VA State Police were going door to door at hotels looking for Trump supporters, and he and other OKs decided to leave early, meeting at a gas station so that Rhodes can fill up everyone’s vehicle’s on OK credit card.
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Then . . . series of messages on 7th between he and Sorrell, and others about where to meet. Then the discussion is about use of burner phone on that day, and the OKs other uses of burner phones.
Then series of messages from Sorrell and Rhodes telling other OKs to “SHUT THE F-CK UP” about all activities on January 6.
Rakoczy asks him if he has a “level of control” over Sorrell. Rhodes responds with comment about getting into “kink” . . . in the bedroom being the only control over her. Describes her as being Type-A out of the bedroom, and inside the bedroom a [something different - inaudible].
More chats about messages and chats that needed to be deleted. Who could. Who couldn’t. Etc.
Rakoczy asks Rhodes about being disbarred by State of Montana in 2015 . . . <objection> . . . <LONG sidebar>. Objection overruled.
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Rakoczy reads off the complaints against him by Montana bar, and the fact Rhodes did not respond to any of the notices or complaints. Rhodes says he didn’t see the notices, because they went to a PO Box which he never checked. Failure to respond resulted in him being disbarred.
Rakoczy then begins asking him about his continuing to stock up on weapons and supplies after J6. He explains he remembered the assault weapons ban of the 90s, and wanted to get ahead of that repeating, in reaction to J6.
Rakoczy pushed more discussions about Rhodes and OKs intention to overthrow the government of the US, based on uses of language Rhodes would use in messages quoting directly from revolutionary language of nations founders.
She then plays previous secret Alpers recording where Rhodes says his only regret is that “We should have brought rifles.” [on J6] “I’d hang fucking Pelosi from the lamppost.”
“Yeah, I said that after a couple drinks and being pissed off.”
No further questions . . .
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Linder begins redirect of Rhodes . . . clarifies that Rhodes himself never personally represented OKs as an attorney, and always used outside counsel for the legal needs.
Questions center on Rakoczy’s attempts to paint OKs as being those who wanted to elicit or perpetuate violence, rather than responding to violence where it already exists, and only providing protective services in response. That out of hundreds of events he personally worked, and “thousands” the organization had participated in. No violence in 13 years of ops.
Linder reviews some of the messages and videos where Rakoczy tried to paint OKs as trying to provoke, elicit, or “bait” violence, when the evidence overwhelmingly shows the opposite.
With regards to the FL security guards who volunteered to assist OKs and were arrested for being out after curfew in hurricane relief op, they had all charges dropped.
Reviewed the steel canes and sticks purchased. They are to be used only as defensive weapons in areas where they can’t carry their guns.
Rhodes admits he’d forgotten the incident where an OK had pointed his weapon at a guy who’d been following them around and filming them.
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Linder begins taking Rhodes through a series of events where OKs received accolades from local officials for their service, including with the Mayor of Houston during Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in 2017.
Addresses the lack of communication with the NC OKs on J6, who’d split from national org prior to the event.
Linder addresses the language Rhodes used and posted leading up to J6, with regards to what they would do IF Trump declared Insurrection Act. Linder tries to lead Rhodes into saying he believed his raucous speech was protected by 1st Amendment - TWO objections - BOTH sustained.
Linder readdresses evidence that most of the messages on J6 were not delivered on time. MORE sustained objections. Mehta again instructs that the jury already has that evidence and can decide based on earlier presentation. <sidebar>
Linder takes Rhodes back through the messages Rhodes was sending to try and get all off-mission OKs back together, and once he successfully did that, they LEFT Capitol.
No more questions . . .
Mehta dismisses jury for the day at 4:58pm, and asks about Rhodes’ next three witnesses tomorrow, and likely two more on Wednesday. (Or, four tomorrow, and fifth on Wednesday.) Mehta asks if Woodward’s witnesses will be available in the event they run through all four of Rhodes’ witnesses tomorrow.
Day ends at 5:04pm.
