WASHINGTON—The defense for the Oath Keepers trial rested its case on Nov. 17 at the federal courthouse, and closing arguments began the following morning.
Jessica Watkins, the last defendant to testify, underwent intense cross-examination by prosecutor Alexandra Hughes.
Hughes focused on Watkins’ messages and other communication about her willingness to fight in a war during the January 6 event.
“Half this country still feels this way [referring to the 2020 presidential election]. Half of this country feels disenfranchised by that election. All the COVID stuff, we didn’t have a free and fair election,” Watkins told the jury.
However, she denied wanting to fight with the U.S. government and having planned an alleged conspiracy to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. She explained that she would have used force only against foreign powers that would invade the country….