Federal prosecutors revealed in a Thursday court filing that Jessica Watkins, an Ohio militia leader, was “awaiting direction” from former US President Donald Trump in the days leading up to the deadly Capitol riot.
The filing, which includes some of the most direct links between Trump and the rioters, states Watkins is a “key figure who put into motion the violence that overwhelmed the Capitol” and was by no means “an ancillary player who became swept up in the moment.”
A military veteran who is a “dues-paying member of the Oath Keepers,” Watkins is alleged to be the commanding officer of the non-official Ohio State Regular Militia, a local organization whose members make up a subset of the Oath Keepers group, according to the filing.
Text messages obtained by investigators note that Watkins and other individuals had established training sessions for members and new recruits that included two days of “wargames” that made up a “larger ‘combat’ training for ‘urban warfare, riot control, and rescue operations.’”
In one message included in the filing, Watkins tells a recruit that they’re needed “fighting fit by inauguration [sic]” while telling another member that “the rest of us will be training with [recruits] to get us all field-ready before inauguration.”
However, as Inauguration Day drew nearer, the military veteran indicated that she was “awaiting direction” from Trump before taking action over the latter’s claims of a stolen election. She noted in a November 9 text message that she was growing increasingly concerned that “this is an elaborate trap.”
“Unless the POTUS himself activates us, it’s not legit. The POTUS has the right to activate units too. If Trump asks me to come, I will. Otherwise, I can’t trust it,” the message continued. Watkins eventually received her undisclosed signal, later telling co-defendant Donovan Crowl that militia members intended to travel to Washington, DC, on January 6 because “Trump wants all able bodied Patriots to come.”
Source: Agencies
