We're learning more and
more about the hundreds of people
who have been arrested and
charged with federal crimes for
their participation in
the Capitol Hill riots.
One of them is of course,
a Trump supporter who got arrested
for her part in the riots.
Her name is Jessica Watkins,
and she also happens
to be an Afghanistan vets, and
also a leader, one of the leaders
of the so called Oath Keepers,
one of these far right militias.
Her lawyers claimed though, that
she had met with the Secret Service
before the riot took place and was
just there to provide security for
elected officials during the Trump
rally that happened prior to
the violence breaking out.
So, here she is, Jessica Watkins.
She got arrested and we're hearing
a lot more from her lawyers.
She's 38 years old and she's one of
nine associates of the anti
government group charged with
conspiring to storm the Capitol to
prevent Congress from certifying
Joe Biden's election victory.
Now, the federal indictment does
describe what she is being accused
of, including the fact that she
arrived at the Capitol
with communication devices,
reinforced vests, camouflage,
helmets and goggles.
She forcibly entered the Capitol
with a line of individuals wearing
Oath Keeper clothing, patches, and
insignia, prosecutors allege.
She's also not only
one of the Oath Keepers leaders,
she's a transgender veteran,
who's a huge Trump supporter.
And again, was there to provide
security according to what her
lawyers are saying for
some of the elected officials who
took part in that rally.
She posted some pretty creepy
stuff online as well.
An Oath Keepers recruit allegedly
asked her on November 17, of 2020,
about what would happen in 2021,
and here's what she said.
I can't predict.
I don't underestimate the resolve
of the Deep State.
Biden may still yet
be our president.
If he is, our way of life as we
know it is over.
Our Republic would be over.
Then it is our duty as Americans to
fight, kill and die for our rights.
And so, I'll get to the specifics
of what her lawyers have filed.
They might actually be telling on
some Secret Service agents if
this is actually true,
but Cenk I wanted to give you
an opportunity to jump in.
>> Yeah, so,
I love all these excuses.
So before, transgender people so
dangerous that you shouldn't even
allow them in a bathroom.
Now, no, it's okay,
she's not guilty,
she's transgender.
Interesting.
They claim she voted for
Obama at some point.
I mean, I wouldn't trust a word
that comes out of her mouth.
But if she did,
I don't care at all.
Before, she started about
everybody's tough until
they have to go to court, right?
I mean, Anna read you the quote, It
is our duty as Americans to fight,
kill, kill, and die for our rights.
So, before she's like,
let's go kill people.
Then she gets to the court,
I voted for Obama.
Did you know I'm trans?
I don't care at all, at all.
Did you break the law or
didn't you?
And one of the other hilarious
defenses is?
Well, she didn't actually enter
the Capitol until 40 minutes after
the first break in.
It's like saying, well, to be fair,
Your Honor, my client was late to
the bank robbery.
I mean, she participated and
stole the money with other people,
but she didn't show up on time to
the bank robbery.
I'm pretty sure that's not a good
defence.
>> For me,
the fact that she's transgender.
The only reason why it's relevant
is just how cultish Trump and
his following is,
because remember one of the first
things that Donald Trump did in his
term was ban transgender people
from serving in the military.
There was a transgender ban.
That was one of the first
things he did.
And she's a veteran, it's okay.
I mean, I don't understand
the reasoning or the logic,
I just don't.
>> There is no logic. >> And also
the willingness, I know,
there isn't.
And also like the willingness to
risk your own life, and your
criminal record, your clean record,
whatever you want to call it,
in order to engage in the violence
that took place that day.
But I do want to read you a few
portions of what her lawyers
have filed in regard to that
statement regarding killing and
dying for our rights.
The lawyer said this,
these statements if made, were
made in November, shortly after
the election in the wake of the
then President's heated rhetoric
about the election being stolen.
They are not even alleged to
have been made about the January 6
events.
The statements were not directed
toward law enforcement and
are easily interpreted as being
prepared to
encounter violent counter protests
as they had on earlier occasions.
So, the thing that really stands
out to me about that statement is
the fact that as soon as they're
dealing with federal charges.
It's because of Trump's
violent rhetoric, it's because of
Trump's heated rhetoric.
I mean, I immediately blame Trump
even though of course he was never
convicted in his Senate impeachment
trial for inciting riots.
But I mean, in case after case,
literally hundreds of these people
have been arrested.
And so many of them are citing
the exact same reason.
No, but we just did it
because Donald Trump riled us up.
Donald Trump incited us.
Okay, and then also,
her statements about killing people
weren't directed specifically at
law enforcement.
Okay, then I guess it's okay.
I guess it's okay.
What kind of,
I mean very weird defense there.
Let me give you more though.
On January 5 and 6, Ms.
Watkins, again, this is from what
the lawyers filed, was present not
as an insurrectionist, but
to provide security
to the speakers at the rally.
To provide escort for
the legislators and
others to march to the Capitol as
directed by the then president, and
to safely escort
protesters away from the capital.
That's not what the evidence shows,
apparently, to their vehicles and
cars at the conclusion of
the protest.
And then, this is the part that
stood out to me the most because
this should be investigated.
They claim that she was given
a VIP pass to the rally.
She met with secret service agents.
She was within 50 feet of the stage
during the rally to provide
security for the speakers.
At the time the capital was
breached she was still at the site
of the initial rally where she had
provided security,
to your point earlier Cenk.
The government concedes that her
arrival at the Capitol was a full
40 minutes after the Capitol
had been breached.
So, was she like coordinating with
Secret Service?
Was she actually hired
professionally to provide security
during that Trump rally where he
incited people and
encouraged them to walk up to go to
the Capitol and fight like hell?
I mean, it's just the thing about
the riot is just how many veterans
were involved.
How many members of the military
were involved,
how many members of local law
enforcement from throughout
the country were involved?
Now, we're hearing about
Secret Service coordinating like
all of this stuff.
That's what I
really want investigated.
We keep hearing about all of these
right wing militia members who yes
should face the consequences for
whatever they engaged in if
there's evidence indicating
that they engaged in violence.
But when are we going to
hear about the actual investigation
into government officials,
into Capitol Police.
We get like slow and steady
drips of information here or there,
but nothing substantive enough to
put my mind at ease in regard to an
actual substantive investigation,
you get what I'm saying?
Like I'm worried that it's just
going to be brushed under the rug.
Look, if your defense is
the Secret Service made me do it,
well then tell us who at
the Secret Service made you do it,
if not, not much of a defense.
And that's the end of that.
I'll just end on noting the irony
of Republicans claiming that kancil
culture is so
bad while supporting canceling all
trans people from the military.
Let alone all Muslims from
the country, let alone the riots
that she participated in that said
hang Mike Pence.
So, I'm pretty sure it's canceling
someone when you hang them.