Four more associates of the extremist Oath Keepers group have been indicted for storming the US Capitol on Jan. 6, court records unsealed Sunday show.
Three Florida men — Joseph Hackett, 51, of Sarasota, Jason Dolan, 44, of Wellington and William Isaacs, 21, of Kissimmee — were indicted Wednesday for conspiring to obstruct a joint session of congress to confirm the 2020 presidential election, the Washington Post reported.
They were named in a superseding indictment in the largest conspiracy case to arise from the insurrection, bringing the total number of co-defendants to 16, the outlet reported.
The name of a fourth new defendant in the case, who is not known to be in custody, was redacted in the court filings.
The men are considered associates of the Oath Keepers, a network of extremist groups comprised primarily of former law enforcement officers and members of the military, and are facing a number of charges.
Prosecutors allege they donned camouflage combat uniforms, tactical vests with plates, helmets and eye protection and marched single-file up the steps of the Capitol before forcing their way into the building through the East Rotunda doors, the outlet reported.
The men were in touch with Oath Keepers founder Steven Rhodes — who has not yet been charged with a crime — and organized by co-defendants already charged in the case, prosecutors allege.
Rhodes previously told the Washington Post messages he exchanged with Oath Keepers at the scene were just an effort to bring them into one place and “keep them out of trouble” but the latest indictment challenges that narrative, the outlet reported.
Prosecutors allege Rhodes started talking about plans to forcefully keep Trump in the White House months before the insurrection and exchanged dozens of messages, calls and other communications with the co-defendants before and during the riots.
“We’re going to defend the president, the duly elected president, and we call on him to do what needs to be done to save our country. Because if you don’t, guys, you’re going to be in a bloody, bloody civil war and a bloody — you can call it an insurrection or you can call it a war or fight,” Rhodes allegedly wrote on Nov. 9 in a message to Hackett, two other previously charged defendants and other followers of Oath Keepers, the outlet reported.
“I’m willing to sacrifice myself for that,” Rhodes allegedly went on.
“Let the fight start there. That will give President Trump what he needs, frankly. . . . We want him to declare an insurrection, and to call us up as the militia.”
Lawyers for Dolan and Isaacs didn’t return the outlet’s request for comment and Hackett does not have an attorney on file.
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