Oath Keeper excited to accept second plea deal in Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy case


Brian Ulrich admitted to being part of the group that marched to the Capitol.

Federal prosecutors on Friday secured a second plea and cooperation agreement with a member of the Oath Keepers militia group charged in the government seditious conspiracy case stemming from the Jan. 6 assault on the US Capitol.

Brian Ulrich, of Guyton, Ga., admitted Friday that he was part of the group of Oath Keepers seen during the riot ascending the east steps of the Capitol in a military-style “stack” formation.

The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to two felony counts of seditious conspiracy and obstruction of official proceeding, both of which carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. As outlined in his guilty plea, Ulrich’s estimated felony level carries a sentence range of between 63 and 78 months, although the government may recommend a lesser sentence depending on the degree of his cooperation.

As part of his plea agreement, Ulrich agreed to provide “substantial cooperation” to the government, including testifying before a grand jury and at trial, as well as attending additional government interviews if requested.

As DC District Judge Amit Mehta read the terms of his plea, Ulrich became emotional and his voice cracked as Mehta described the potential prison time he could face at sentencing.

Mehta at one point asked Ulrich if he wanted to take a break to collect himself.

“It’s not going to get any easier,” Ulrich replied.

He could be heard crying over the teleconference line several times during the rest of the hearing.

In a file released Friday, Ulrich acknowledged using the Signal app to private message other Oath Keepers members about his plans to prevent Joe Biden from becoming president in favor of then-President Donald Trump.

“I seriously wonder what it would take for all patriots to march around the capital armed.” Ulrich sent a message on December 5, 2020. “Just to show our government how powerless they are!”

Ulrich also admitted that he traveled to Washington, DC, on January 4 knowing that other members of the group had stored firearms in a hotel in Virginia, where prosecutors say several Oath Keepers were stationed on January 6 as part of a Heavily armed “Rapid Reaction Force” in case the group wanted to transport weapons into the city.

Before his trip, Ulrich said he purchased tactical gear and other equipment, including two-way radio receivers, which he brought with him inside the Capitol.

At the beginning of the assault on the Capitol, Ulrich said that he and other members of the Oath Keepers were at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. When they saw news of the mob breaking through police lines, the group gathered their team and raced to the Capitol in golf carts to join the attack.

In the days after Jan. 6, Ulrich continued to communicate with other Oath Keepers at Signal, saying in a message that he and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes needed to “stay under the radar,” according to prosecutors.

Ulrich’s guilty plea follows a similar deal prosecutors reached last month with Joshua James, a member of the Alabama chapter of Oath Keepers who admitted providing security for former Trump adviser Roger Stone the day before the riots. .

There are nine remaining members of the Oath Keepers facing charges of seditious conspiracy, including Rhodes, all of whom have pleaded not guilty and have vowed to fight the charges at trial.

“Do you agree with that statement [in your plea agreement] who agreed with Mr. Rhodes and others in forcibly opposing the legal transfer of presidential power?” Mehta asked Ulrich on Friday.

“Yes, your honor,” Ulrich replied.



Reference-abcnews.go.com

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