WASHINGTON — The trial of a far-right extremist group chief and 4 associates charged within the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol was delayed on Monday after the Oath Keepers chief examined positive for the coronavirus.
Jurors had been supposed to start listening to the fourth week of testimony within the case in opposition to Stewart Rhodes and 4 others accused of plotting to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden.
The choose instructed legal professionals and jurors to return Tuesday morning but it surely’s unclear when and the way they’ll have the ability to proceed with the case.
An lawyer for Rhodes, Ed Tarpley, stated he was instructed by jail officers that his shopper is in “total isolation” on the jail and wasn’t even out there for a telephone name. Rhodes might be out there in court docket subsequent week on the soonest if he checks adverse on Sunday, however may additionally waive his look in court docket to permit the testimony of some witnesses to go ahead.
Prosecutors had been anticipated to relaxation their case by the tip of this week after which Rhodes’ attorneys had been going to start placing on their protection. Rhodes’ legal professionals have stated their shopper will take the stand to testify that all of his actions were in anticipation of orders he expected from Trump — orders that never came.
The defendants are the primary amongst a whole lot charged within the Capitol assault to face trial on the cost of seditious conspiracy, a uncommon Civil War-era cost that carries a most sentence of 20 years in jail.
Prosecutors have stated Rhodes and his extremist group deliberate an “armed rebellion” to maintain Trump in energy. Authorities say they’d “quick reaction force” groups stationed at a Virginia resort to get weapons into town shortly in the event that they had been wanted and that the group was ready to cease Biden from changing into president by any means essential.
Defense legal professionals have accused prosecutors of cherry-picking messages and have stated they got here to offer safety to political figures like Roger Stone, to not perform a plan to assault the Capitol.
Testimony began on Oct. 3 and the choose had stated witnesses may stretch into the week of Nov. 14. The stakes are excessive for the Justice Department, which final secured a seditious conspiracy conviction at trial practically 30 years in the past and intends to attempt two extra teams on the cost later this yr.
The disruption comes nearly every week after a juror was dismissed after testing positive for COVID. The federal courthouse in Washington the place the trial is being held final week lifted its masks mandate, however the choose overseeing the trial was nonetheless requiring these not talking to put on masks to keep away from an outbreak. Still, legal professionals and defendants had been often seen with noses uncovered or masks pulled down underneath their chin.
On trial with Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, are Kelly Meggs, chief of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers; Kenneth Harrelson, one other Florida Oath Keeper; Thomas Caldwell, a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer from Virginia; and Jessica Watkins, who led an Ohio militia group. They face a number of different fees as properly.
They are amongst roughly 900 individuals who have been charged within the assault, which quickly halted the certification of Biden’s victory, despatched lawmakers working for canopy and left dozens of law enforcement officials injured.
Associated Press reporters Ashraf Khalil and Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this story.
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