Phoenix Oath Keeper Pleads Not Guilty In Jan. 6 Riot Conspiracy

Phoenix AZ

31 January, 2022

7:25 PM

Description

PHOENIX, AZ — An accused Oath Keeper from Phoenix pleaded not guilty to several charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building Friday, including a charge of seditious conspiracy, according to court documents. Edward Vallejo, 63, is accused of coordinating teams that waited outside of Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, ready to deliver guns and ammunition to rioters on the Capitol grounds. Vallejo is charged alongside a group of 10 fellow Oath Keepers who together are accused of plotting and attempting to use force to stop the transfer of presidential power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden, according to charging documents. The Oath Keepers are a far-right extremist group. Vallejo was arrested Jan. 13 in Phoenix and U.S. Magistrate Judge John Boyle decided Jan. 20 that Vallejo should not be released before his trial because the judge believed Vallejo was a danger to the community. In court documents, federal prosecutors claim that Vallejo traveled to Arlington, Virginia on Jan. 5, 2021, specifically to lead a QRF or quick reaction force team ready to bring weapons and ammunition to Oath Keepers rioting at the Capitol grounds. Vallejo's team is accused of setting up at a hotel in Arlington, where Oath Keepers dropped off weapons for Vallejo and his team to deliver to them at their request, according to court documents. In the midst of the rioting at the Capitol, Vallejo is accused of repeatedly messaging members of the Oath Keepers on the ground, offering to bring in the weapons if they were needed.After the riot had ended, Vallejo is accused of saying it wasn't over and offering to stay in Arlington to continue with reconnaissance. He added that he had enough food for 30 days.Prosecutors say those charged in the plot discussed their plans in encrypted chats, traveled to the nation's capital from across the country, organized into teams and used military tactics. The Associated Press contributed to this report.