WASHINGTON—U.S. military veterans testified in federal court in Washington on Oct. 8 that they joined the Oath Keepers organization because it gave them a sense of continuing to serve their country.
They took the stand during the trial of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four others who are charged with seditious conspiracy and other crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach.
Lee Maddox, 43, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, told the court that he joined the Oath Keepers organization about five years ago in a spirit of patriotism. He served in the Army for eight years and always closely obeyed his mission orders.
The organization brings veterans together to offer the skills they acquired to help their communities. As a member of the Oath Keepers, Maddox shared his knowledge of combat medicine—which he gained while in the Army.
He described the Oath Keepers organization as a group that would get to know their community and neighbors, making the most of each member’s skills to contribute in the event of natural disasters. Maddox explained they formed teams, created community safety programs for police officers who needed help, trained civilians to use firearms, as well as other forms of community service.
However, everything changed in 2020, he said, when “it looked like everyone was losing their minds.” Maddox recalled people being killed in the streets and police cars burning.
“And no one was doing anything about it,” he added.
Maddox said he and his friends spontaneously decided to go to Washington to attend the Jan. 6, 2021, event; they heard there was going to be a rally, and they wanted to listen to then-President Donald Trump. He told the court that he wasn’t aware of a call to action that day.
While driving from Wyoming to the district, he was added to Signal group chats. Maddox said he didn’t receive any specific indications on Jan. 6 about where to go. He looked out for some elderly people that came with him to the rally from Wyoming.
Maddox denied communicating with Rhodes on Jan. 6. He said he had phone trouble until later that evening. Later, he heard from others watching the news that some Oath Keepers had entered the Capitol.
A defense counsel questioned Maddox about whether he would have entered the Capitol if Oath Keepers had asked him to do so. He said he wouldn’t have associated himself with people who'd ask him to do that.
“We [the Oath Keepers] are not anti-government; we are pro-government and pro-Constitution,” Maddox responded, pushing back against allegations about the group’s motivations.
Jeffrey Nestler, a prosecutor, asked Maddox if he drove such a long distance, to Washington from Wyoming, to be able to bring not only his handgun but also his rifle. Maddox said, “Yes,” explaining that having a handgun is common in Wyoming.
He confirmed that all his friends who came with him had rifles, although he said they left all their firearms at a hotel in Virginia.
Maddox also told Nestler that he trained people about “dynamic room entry,” a tactic to combat a home invasion.
“Who would be the insurgency?” Nestler asked.
“Antifa,” Maddox responded. “The Wyoming Communist Party.”
Another veteran, Ricky Jackson, 67, from Georgia, served seven years of active duty in the Army. He said he was interested in joining the Oath Keepers because he heard they helped families and supported community events. Jackson said he had always wanted to be involved in such an organization.
Besides the rally on Jan. 6, he didn’t participate in other events with the Oath Keepers. He said he didn’t bring firearms to Washington or Virginia.
While Maddox often chuckled on the witness stand while talking to the attorneys in the courtroom, Jackson was stern and serious.
During cross-examination, Jackson almost lost his patience when trying to make a prosecution attorney, Alexandra Hughes, understand that while he was at the bottom of the Capitol steps focused on protecting people on Jan. 6, he wasn’t paying attention to any other loud noises around him.
Hughes was trying to have Jackson identify the voice of Joshua James, an Oath Keepers member from Alabama. James entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 and yelled at police officers, while Jackson didn’t enter the Capitol.
James pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy and obstruction charges.
“Is it a crime to speak loudly with police?” asked a defense attorney.
“No, I don’t believe so. It’s part of the First Amendment,” Jackson responded.
Neither Jackson nor Maddox have been charged in connection with Jan. 6.
Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell are charged with seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, conspiracy to prevent an officer from carrying out any duties, destruction of government property, civil disorder, and tampering with documents.
