The federal judge overseeing the Oath Keepers seditious-conspiracy trial in Washington, D.C., twice refused to allow defense testimony on Nov. 14 from an Oath Keeper and retired New York police sergeant who led the rescue of 16 U.S. Capitol Police officers on the east side of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Judge Amit Mehta watched a video shot by a Florida-based videographer showing the rescue operation, before ruling that testimony by Michael Nichols would not be probative or relevant to the five defendants on trial in the case.
It was a contentious beginning to the eighth week of the trial of Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, Kelly Meggs, Jessica Watson, Kenneth Harrelson, and Thomas Caldwell. The five are charged with seditious conspiracy and a host of other counts. The defense could wrap up its work this week, followed by closing arguments. The trial began on Sept. 27….