Evidence that the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol was not a spontaneous “insurrection,” but one that was carefully preplanned, with the included involvement of FBI stringers embedded in extremist groups, continues to emerge. It was previously revealed that Enrique Tarrio, national chairman of the right-wing Proud Boys group, also involved in the storming of the Capitol, served as an FBI informant for many years
Now, in a Feb. 8 posting to his Just The News blog, investigative reporter John Solomon zeroes in on the case of one Thomas Edward Caldwell, a member of the paramilitary Oath Keepers group, who also worked as a Section Chief for the FBI between 2009 and 2010, had a top secret security clearance, and had done security work for the U.S. government. On Jan. 19, Caldwell was arrested, and subsequently indicted along with two other Oath Keepers members, Jessica Marie Watkins and Donovan Ray Crowl, charged with conspiracy, destruction of government property, and unlawful entry on restricted building or grounds.
According to FBI affidavits, the three conspired with each other to forcibly storm the U.S. Capitol, and “communicated with one another in advance of the incursion"—beginning in November of 2020—"and planned their attack.” Facebook and other social media posts from all three on Jan. 6 boasted that they had “breached the Capitol.” In one transmission that day, Watkins is quoted saying “we have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan,” according to a Justice Department press release Jan. 27. In a Facebook posting, Caldwell also said he was coordinating with Oath Keepers from other states.
More broadly, as Solomon reports, there are a dozen FBI affidavits supporting charges against more than 200 defendants, showing rioters engaged in advance planning on social media sites. This included training, casing sites, identifying commanders on scene, and requests for donations of cash as well as combat and communications gear. More than half a dozen of the suspects are now charged with conspiracy to commit violence for actions predating the Jan. 6 riots. Court documents identify early actions dating back to November, with planning and rhetoric accelerating after Christmas of 2020, Solomon documents.
