One Talking Point Down

Have you noticed how the flying monkey right wing nutjobs are claiming that January 6 was not an insurrection because no one has been charged with sedition?

Not Any More:

If you were wondering when—or if—the Department of Justice was going to suit up and get after the people who invaded the Capitol in January, you can sit back and, for today, anyway, admire the barrage. Eleven people, including the leader of the Oath Keepers, have been indicted on federal charges, including seditious conspiracy, in connection with their actions on January 6. From the official DOJ release:

According to court documents, Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, 56, of Granbury, Texas, who is the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers; and Edward Vallejo, 63, of Phoenix, Arizona, are being charged for the first time in connection with events leading up to and including Jan. 6. Rhodes was arrested this morning in Little Elm, Texas, and Vallejo was arrested this morning in Phoenix.

In addition to Rhodes and Vallejo, those named in the indictment include nine previously charged defendants: Thomas Caldwell, 67, of Berryville, Virginia; Joseph Hackett, 51, of Sarasota, Florida; Kenneth Harrelson, 41, of Titusville, Florida; Joshua James, 34, of Arab, Alabama; Kelly Meggs, 52, of Dunnellon, Florida; Roberto Minuta, 37, of Prosper, Texas; David Moerschel, 44, of Punta Gorda, Florida; Brian Ulrich, 44, of Guyton, Georgia and Jessica Watkins, 39, of Woodstock, Ohio. In addition to the earlier charges filed against them, they now face additional counts for seditious conspiracy and other offenses.

The indictment describes a much more sophisticated and militarized plan of action for last January 6 than the chaos that appeared on TV. (Observers have long reported that some factions of the mob looked suspiciously coordinated in their assaults.) From the DOJ release:

While certain Oath Keepers members and affiliates breached the Capitol grounds and building, others remained stationed just outside of the city in quick reaction force (QRF) teams. According to the indictment, the QRF teams were prepared to rapidly transport firearms and other weapons into Washington, D.C., in support of operations aimed at using force to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power. The indictment alleges that the teams were coordinated, in part, by Caldwell and Vallejo.

The charge of seditious conspiracy carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

20 years, huh?  Here is hoping.