Members of the far-right paramilitary group, the Oath Keepers returned to the Capitol the morning after the riot for a reconnaissance mission, prosecutors say.
In court documents calling for Edward Vallejo, 63, to be detained before trial, prosecutors say he continued to plot against the United States government even after Jan. 6 and was prepared to remain in Washington D.C for at least 30 days.
Surveillance video at the Comfort Inn Ballston hotel captured Vallejo and members of the Arizona ‘quick reaction force’ (QRF) on Jan. 5 “wheeling in bags and large bins of weapons, ammunition, and essential supplies to last 30 days.”
On the evening of Jan. 6 prosecutors say Vallejo wrote in a group chat that “we’ll be back at 6am to do it again. We got food for 30 days.”
Vallejo followed through with the plan writing in the group’s Signal chat on Jan. 7, “departing for Recon now” we’re “going to probe their defense line right now 6 am they should let us in.”
The Department of Justice said Vallejo coordinated his movements at the Capitol with members of the Oath Keeper’s “quick reaction force.” They had amassed “firearms on the outskirts of Washington. D.C” on January 6, readying members to rapidly transport the stockpiled firearms into DC to distribute them among QRF teams “in support of operations aimed at using force to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power.
Vallejo currently faces charges of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties. If convicted he faces up to 20 years in prison.
