A veteran of the US armed forces and member of the far-right organization Oath Keepers was sentenced Friday to eight and a half years in prison for participating in the conspiracy to keep former President Donald Trump in power.
Jessica Watkins’ verdict comes a day after the convictions of two other members of the Oath Keepers group, founder Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs, who will face 18 years and 12 years in prison respectively for their participation in the invasion of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.
In reading the verdict, Judge Amit Mehta noted that according to the US press, Watkins participated in the conspiracy “more aggressively” than other members and led others in the attack.
The judge also reprimanded her for later — during the trial — showing no remorse or guilt for what had happened, but instead making “commemorative” comments about the attack on congressional headquarters, showing that she was unaware was of the seriousness of her actions.
During the attack on the Capitol, which left five dead and more than 140 police officers injured, supporters of Donald Trump raided the Capitol headquarters as the two chambers of Congress met to ratify Biden’s election victory.
Watkins, who was acquitted in November of conspiracy to commit sedition, this time was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings for interfering with the certification of Joe Biden’s victory as president of the United States after winning the election.
“No one would say you are Stewart Rhodes, and I don’t think you are Kelly Meggs, but your role in these events is greater than that of a soldier alone,” the judge said.
Source: DN
