A government witness in the seditious conspiracy trial of Stewart Rhodes claims the Oath Keepers leader asked him to deliver a message telling then-President Donald Trump to seize power by force.
“You must use the insurrection act and use the power of the Presidency to stop him,” Rhodes allegedly told Trump in a typewritten message entered into evidence. “And all us veterans will support you and so will the vast majority of military.”
According to the testimony, Rhodes personally entered that message into the phone of government witness Jason Alpers, a military veteran with combat and special ops experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He testified that Rhodes passed on the message during his meeting with the Oath Keepers leader in the parking lot of a Fry’s electronics store in Texas on Jan. 10, 2021.
Rhodes, he claims, wanted him to pass the message to Trump, knowing that Alpers had a line to the 45th president.
“Not directly but indirectly,” Alpers testified.
Alpers said that he furtively taped the meeting with a recording device — which he said resembled a thumb drive — in case he needed to pass on the message to Trump.
“I was really using it for my protection, making sure that I had an accurate account of it,” he said.
That recording, which Alpers turned over to the FBI months later, was entered into evidence and played in court. It features a lengthy discussion of the Insurrection Act, which Oath Keepers members believed would allow Trump to militarize groups like them to keep him in power.
“I mean we heard he dropped the Insurrection Act, now we’re hearing he didn’t drop it,” Rhodes said.
But Alpers apparently disagreed.
“I’m hearing he did not,” he replied.
“Okay,” Rhodes said. “So what are you hearing?”
“Uh, that he hasn’t dropped it,” Alpers continued.
After some further discussion, Alpers predicted that the Trump would not ultimately invoke it.
“I don’t think the Insurrection Act’s gonna get signed, me personally,” he said. “That doesn’t mean that I’m not gonna take what we’re talking about and provide it to the right place, ok?”
By that, Alpers continued in the tape, he meant the “head guy.”
Asked by the prosecutor who the “head guy” was, Alpers clarified: “I meant providing the message to President Trump.”
That message, allegedly relayed by Rhodes to give to Trump, was grim.
“You and your children will die in prison, and us veterans will die in combat fighting against traitors who YOU turned over all the powers of the Presidency to,” Rhodes allegedly wrote for Trump’s consumption. The message also asked the former president to arrest members of Congress.
After first invoking imagery from the Civil War, Rhodes in the message turned toward the spector of World War II: “Be a Churchill, not a Chamberlain.”
Alpers testified that he did not pass on the message because he did not agree with it.
As a veteran, Alpers said, he’s seen combat, and the recording seems to show Alpers discouraging Rhodes from pursuing that course.
“I can tell you right now I don’t wish civil war on anyone,” Alpers said on the tape.
“We’re gonna have it bud,” Rhodes replied, according to the transcript.
Asked why he pushed back against Rhodes on that point, Alpers told the prosecutor: “Asking for Civil War to be on American ground […] that means blood is going to be shed on the streets where your family’s on.”
After Alpers finished his testimony, FBI agent Jennifer Banks returned to the witness stand to analyze cell phone tower data. According to the witness, that data placed Rhodes, SoRelle and Oath Keepers member Joshua James in the Dallas area, the location of the meeting, at the time.
A former Oath Keepers member now cooperating with the government previously testified that Rhodes spoke as if he had a “direct line” to Trump. Another ex-Oath Keepers member said that Rhodes placed a call in a hotel on speaker phone after Jan. 6, asking to be connected to Trump.
[Image of Rhodes from DOJ, via Ford Fischer / News2Share; Image of Trump by Sean Rayford/Getty Images]
The fact that every school official denies that there are litterboxes doesn’t matter to him because it is a great talking point to tarnish trans kids with. Besides a right wing media has said it is happening so that is proof it is happening right? Now I did find out that there are a few schools that do have emergency kits in classrooms that do include a bucket with kitty litter so that kids in a mass shooting lockdown stuck in the class room have a place to pee. Columbine was the first school to set these emergency kits / buckets up in the classrooms. It is not a littler box really, it is not for furries or kids playing dress up. It is a sad commentary on our country these days that something so serious as our children being in hiding from an active shooter is misconstrued to attack trans kids and ridiculed an important safety asset. Hugs
“They’re putting litter boxes,” Bolduc said in the recording. “These are the same people that are concerned about spreading germs. Yet they let children lick themselves and then touch everything. And they’re starting to lick each other.”
Bolduc claimed this was taking place in schools in Claremont and Derry and named Pinkerton Academy, which took to Twitter this week to refute the allegation.
“It has come to our attention that at a recent event in Claremont Don Bolduc named Pinkerton in false claims suggesting that unhygienic, disturbing practices are taking place in our classrooms and spaces on campus,” the school said. “We want to assure our community that Mr. Bolduc’s statements are entirely untrue.”
And below is this latest. Watch.
NEW: Don Bolduc- only to @NBCNews says the school he accused of using litter boxes for children who identify as animals needs to "prove" the claim wrong. He tells me a parent and a student told him it was happening and he is "not backing down." pic.twitter.com/s7CLx09uu2
They believe all that bullshit from Sunday School for no reason other than someone with authority told them to believe, so why wouldn’t they believe this?
Yes. Pay no attention to the erractic and devastating weather. Or Nazis. Or child molesters at the local church. Or caged children at the border. Or nuclear holocaust
Its litter boxes and drag queens that are the real problem
Well, as people here have pointed out before, schools are buying litter boxes for their classrooms. As part of an “active shooter classroom lockdown” kit, because fucking Republicans think arming the mentally unbalanced is a good idea.
These people think never backing down is a virtue. When you’re objectively wrong and your position is just plain fucking stupid, it’s time to back down.
Besides, who wants to hear this bullshit from a guy who hasn’t even proved that he doesn’t regularly rape babies and goats and baby goats? What a sicko.
They think “never apologizing” is a virtue. It’s just a sign that you didn’t grow up.
Remember when they called Obama the “apologizer-in-chief” or whatever? He was already bombing the Middle East. What did they want him to do, nuke Isis?
A federal judge in Phoenix issued a restraining order Tuesday night against a group that has been photographing and recording voters casting ballots at drop boxes in Arizona.
The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Michael Liburdi, prohibits Clean Elections USA from “openly” carrying weapons or “visibly wear body armor” within 250 feet of drop boxes. Liburdi’s order also bars the group’s members from taking photos, recording, following or yelling at voters within 75 feet of drop box locations.
Furthermore, he told the group’s founder, Melody Jennings, to post a message to her account on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump’s social media platform, that reads in part: “It is not always illegal to deposit multiple ballots in a ballot drop box. It is legal to deposit the ballot of a family member, household member, or person for whom you are the caregiver.”
The group and its founder were accused of “intimidation and harassment” of voters as they dropped off their ballots in Maricopa County. The lawsuit was filed by the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino.
Armed people dressed in tactical gear at the site of a ballot drop box in Mesa, Ariz., on Oct. 21.Maricopa County Elections Department / AFP – Getty Images
Don’t be surprised that the right wing gang thugs don’t try to do this also. And the republicans / police will look the other way. Over the years the right has both politically and physically tried to stop the other side from voting. Now they are trying to intimidate the voters trying to use drop boxes. What makes you think they won’t just try it at the entrances to polling places in democratic areas? The republican party has already called for right wing poll watchers with instructions to impede voting by minorities, what makes you think that some maga people won’t just block entrances or roadways. Hugs
The future of one of the world’s largest democracies and the Amazon rainforest was on a knife edge as Brazil held its most important election in decades and its far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, battled to cling to power amid claims that security forces were engaged in a pro-Bolsonaro voter suppression campaign.
As 156 million Brazilians went to the polls, there were alarming reports that members of the federal highway police – a notoriously pro-Bolsonaro security force – had set up roadblocks in Lula strongholds in the country’s north-east.
Brazil’s opposition denounced the unusual operations, which were reportedly planned during a meeting at Bolsonaro’s official presidential residence, as a deliberate attempt to prevent Lula voters reaching their polling stations.
Brazil is feared to be undergoing a massive campaign of voter suppression, with federal highway patrols conducting hundreds of operations causing traffic chaos, especially in the Northern areas, where a huge turnout for left-leaning former president Lula was expected.
Organizers of a Halloween-themed drag show meant to raise funds for a local LGBTQ resource center are facing threats of violence and death after the event was featured by a right wing Twitter account with a nationwide reach.
Lindsey Knapp, an attorney and U.S. Army veteran who has works as an advocate for victims of sexual violence, said she’s started receiving threats of violence and death over the event from strangers after the event was featured this week by “Libs of TikTok.”
Libs of TikTok’s tweet indicates that one of the drag performers is “inspired by Satanism,” although Knapp says she doesn’t know that performer and they are not on Sunday’s bill.
Happening now: 16 Proud Boys & about 16 others holding signs about “groomers” are outside a venue in Sanford, NC that is hosting a drag brunch pic.twitter.com/QRb5on2gvN
The Proud Boys have been claiming all day they had supporters inside taking pictures of the drag show brunch. I didn’t believe it until this woman came out and got a selfie with them flashing “white power” before she left. pic.twitter.com/I9MkXOzRb6
Notice these assholes are masked. These are the same people that stormed school board meetings to stop mask wearing. These are the same people that would not wear masks in stores or shops when we were having a public health emergency to protect against virus, but will cover their face to harass and intimidate people doing a legal activity. This is so like the abortion clinic protest people, figuring their demands must be met and the facilities closed by force if necessary. Well there is no right to abortion in the red states, and some of those same states have bills to make drag shows against the law also. What is next outlawing gays, lesbians, definitely they will ban trans people. Plus notice these are white supremacy white power groups. This is the right wing now racist gang thug bigots. Hugs
yes, and its the ‘standard’ in NC,and SC, SCs ancient gov loves anything that is anti LGBT, NC relig kooks in upper gov levels are the same….The weather is good in those states, and temps stay in the 1860s Year round……
Agreed. We need to get the gym bunnies out there to intimidate them right back. Those boys can maybe use their muscles for something besides preening and posing in the mirror.
It should be obvious by now that the fascists don’t give two shits about grooming and pedophilia on their side, nor will that dissuade people from voting for them.
Don’t take this personally, but there’s a serious case of chronic “‘Daily Show’ brain” on our side, where people still seem to think that point out hypocrisy on the right, with a bit of snark added for good measure, is an effective political tactic.
Fascists don’t care about consistency or looking like the good guys. They care about power.
“….don’t give two shits about grooming and pedophilia…” That is too true. Whatever they hate about others is food for this behavior. Gay people and abortion are so hated in this country, that they can do this with impunity and they know it. It really is time for some payback.
Not, not at all unsurprising. Except for a few, many cops hate gays and racial/ethnic minorities. Now they feel empowered to put their hatred into action. Derek Chauvin’s conviction and imprisonment were a fluke. How many are still out there, killing with impunity?
Maybe it’s because these guys–at least the unmasked ones–look like guys in pickup trucks hanging around the cruisey area of the local woods, a friend tells me.
So they can keep bullying and terrorizing is without repercussions. I thought it would be obvious by now that it’s useless to try and “well ackshually” them by pointing out hypocrisy and inconsistency.
To be called out on one’s hypocrisy, one would have to have some shame (at least for the calling out to have positive results). Most of this lot have no shame.
This is not democracy. Drag events are legal, and thugs, gang thugs are stopping them. Where are the police to stop this? Is the US a country of laws or a place run by gangs like in Hati? Notice who is behind it and who is pushing it. The damn Libs of TicTok, a rabid hate group run by a woman and her daughter. They claimed gay kids shouldn’t be in the same classrooms as “normal” kids. What is next that black kids shouldn’t be in the same classrooms as white kids? They are the moral police of the right and the gang Proud Boys are the brownshirt enforcers. This is how the republicans want to govern. This is how the right wants to live, being able to cause fear and intimidate other people into living according to the gangs’ demands. Hugs
Organizers of a Halloween-themed drag show meant to raise funds for a local LGBTQ resource center are facing threats of violence and death after the event was featured by a right wing Twitter account with a nationwide reach.
But organizer and SYCC owner Lindsey Knapp, an attorney and U.S. Army veteran who has works as an advocate for victims of sexual violence, said she’s started receiving threats of violence and death over the event from strangers after the event was featured this week by “Libs of TikTok,” a Twitter account with 1.4 million followers that “reposts a steady stream of TikTok videos and social media posts, primarily from LGBTQ+ people, often including incendiary framing designed to generate outrage,” according to a story from earlier this year in the Washington Post.
Libs of TikTok’s tweet indicates that one of the drag performers is “inspired by Satanism,” although Knapp says she doesn’t know that performer and they are not on Sunday’s bill.
“I’m not so concerned about the people who are just mad at me or who may show up to protest,” Knapp said Friday. “On the back end, there are people posting threats, saying to show up with guns and ‘shoot your local pedophile,’ and that’s what has me concerned.”
Knapp has reported three separate death threats to local authorities, and has hired private security for the event. She says accusations of “grooming” and pedophilia have nothing to do with the event.
“This is about showing the LGBTQ community that they are loved and supported, and that their freedom of expression is supported,” she said. “I’m the parent of a trans youth, and I want him to know that he can be himself. I wholeheartedly believe that children should be protected from sexual assault – I own an organization called Combat Sexual Violence and I’m an attorney, and I literally represent survivors every day.”
Knapp said she’s trying to stay positive by planning a sign making party at her yoga studio on Saturday and encouraging those who support the drag show and its cause to show up and make themselves heard.
“We’re just trying to send a message that love wins and we all have a right to exist,” she said.
Sanford Police Department Major Vinnie Frazer said law enforcement is aware of the threats and investigating them.
“We’re adding extra officers that day to be downtown monitoring and making sure nothing happens and nobody’s rights are violated,” he said. “We take any threats of violence seriously.”
This isn’t the first time controversy has surrounded a drag show hosted by SYCC and Hugger Mugger. In June, both the yoga center and the brewery faced calls to cancel the event and subsequent criticism when they declined. But that event didn’t draw any threats of violence, and although a handful of protesters showed up outside, no incidents were reported.
“(Threats of violence are) taking up a lot of my time,” Knapp said. “I’ve reported them, and I had to go sit in front of the magistrate, and all that takes away from what should be a really positive thing. If people want to protest, that’s fine. As a veteran, I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and that includes freedom of speech. But you have to take threats seriously.”
Governors across the country are furious about President Biden’s cannabis pardons – but only because the private prison industry is telling them to be mad. Mike Papantonio & Farron Cousins discuss more.
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