Federal authorities say on Thursday that they arrested a Phoenix man on suspicion of plotting to stop a vote by Congress which led to the transfer of power from former President Trump to Joe Biden.
A grand jury indictment accuses Edward Vallejo, the leader of a far-right group called the Oath Keepers, and others of seditious conspiracy.
Fast response crews intended to be reinforcements for rioters at the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection were allegedly coordinated by Vallejo and another suspect.
Paul Charlton, former U.S. Attorney for Arizona, said the indictment reads like the feds built their case on evidence that doesn’t forget and doesn’t lie.
“Which is to say they have recordings, audio recordings, of conversations between the alleged co-conspirators and they have copies of written communications,” he said.
It’s unclear if Vallejo, 63, already has a lawyer.
The reinforcement teams he’s alleged to have been involved with were reportedly ready to bring guns into Washington, D.C.
A team from Arizona is mentioned multiple times in a 48-page indictment
Charlton said the document refers to a member of the Arizona team messaging the leader of the Oath Keepers in the days after the insurrection.
“Had the government wanted to indicate that this Arizona QRF team member was Mr. Vallejo, they would have done so. What that signals, in my experience, is that the government may have a cooperating witness,” said Charlton.
