Another member of the Oath Keepers has pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy in connection with their actions around last year’s Capitol riot, and that Oath Keepers member — Georgia resident Brian Ulrich — has also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors amid their ongoing case against other members of his group. That detail means he’ll be providing investigators with relevant information. Ulrich also pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding; both his admitted offenses come with up to 20 years in jail apiece, but he’s set to receive significantly less than that amount. According to journalist Scott MacFarlane, sentencing guidelines covering Ulrich’s case call for from 5 to 7 years in prison, along with a fine of $25,000. The federal judge who eventually handles Ulrich’s sentence will have some leeway in deciding for themselves what penalties to impose.
New: Oath Keeper member Brian Ulrich pleads guilty to seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding on Jan. 6 — the second Oath Keeper to do so after Joshua James, who provided security to Roger Stone.
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) April 29, 2022
A sentencing date for Ulrich hasn’t been set, allowing time for Ulrich to complete his cooperation with prosecutors. He is the second Oath Keepers member to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy after Alabama resident Joshua James did the same. Nine other people involved with the group — including founder and leader Stewart Rhodes — remain charged with the offense, which conclusively refutes the always clearly false notion that the Capitol riot wasn’t as serious as some have characterized it. In fact, these people prepared for violence. James’s plea agreement outlined how Rhodes pushed members to be prepared for the possibility of lethal violence. People involved with the group had the idea that Trump may declare martial law — more specifically, they anticipated a potential of the then-president invoking the Insurrection Act, which allows presidents to call up militias. Oath Keepers members were prepared to be that militia for Trump.
Just in: Jan. 6 committee chair Bennie Thompson tells reporters the panel will hold at least 8 public hearings, spread out over the month of June with some in prime time
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) April 28, 2022
As explained by the Justice Department in Ulrich’s case, “Ulrich admitted that, from November 2020 through January 2021, he conspired with other Oath Keeper members and affiliates to use force to prevent, hinder and delay the execution of the laws of the United States governing the transfer of presidential power. He and others used encrypted and private communications, equipped themselves with a variety of weapons, donned combat and tactical gear, and were prepared to use force to stop the transfer of power.” Ulrich sent messages about topics including his readiness for “civil war,” and it wasn’t just talk — he purchased tactical gear, a recon backpack, and related items. Evidently, Ulrich was informed by someone else involved in the group that others would have firearms available. Rhodes purchased large amounts of weapons, some of which went to a stockpile assembled by Oath Keepers at a D.C.-area hotel as January 6 approached.
New: Proud Boys member Louis Enrique Colon — who started planning to go to the Capitol weeks before the attack in December — will cooperate with the criminal investigation into Jan. 6 as part of a plea deal, DOJ announces.
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) April 27, 2022
Ulrich and others went to the Capitol after hearing that pro-Trump individuals had made it inside the building. In other words, there was no illusion of protest. They were there for the physical violence. Eventually, Ulrich was a member of a so-called stack formation that entered the Capitol, with members holding one hand on a shoulder of the person in front of them. During court proceedings dealing with his guilty plea this week, Ulrich was “struggling and overcome by tears,” according to MacFarlane, the journalist.
In his signed agreement with feds, Ulrich specifies that Stewart Rhodes was part of the conspiracy to stop the lawful transfer of power
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) April 29, 2022
