The Oath Keepers Planned Violence At Capitol On Jan. 6, New Audio Shows

A November 2020 recording discussing bringing weapons to Washington, D.C., surfaced in the federal trial against members of the far-right Oath Keepers group on Tuesday.

The two-hour meeting was recorded by an attendee, according to FBI official Michael Palian. The recorder tipped off the FBI soon after the meeting but was not contacted until March 2021 when they resubmitted the tip following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The recording of the meeting was turned in at that time.

“We’re not getting out of this without a fight,” Oath Keeper leader Stewart Rhodes can be heard saying. “There’s going to be a fight. But let’s just do it smart and let’s do it while President Trump is still commander in chief.”

“Our mission [is] going to be to go into D.C., but I do want some Oath Keepers to stay on the outside and to stay fully armed and prepared to go in if they have to. So, if the s–t kicks off, then you rock and roll,” Rhodes added.

The recording did not mention January 6 or plans to specifically attack the Capitol, but has been used by the government as a foundation for the belief that the far-right group planned to participate in violence of some sort in D.C.

Rhodes and other members of the group are now facing multiple charges, including seditious conspiracy, for their roles in the Capitol breech as President Joe Biden‘s 2020 election win was being certified before a joint session of Congress. A seditious conspiracy conviction could land an individual in prison for up to 20 years.