A man who was the first person charged with conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot claims in legal documents that he’s worked for the FBI for almost a decade, and holds top security clearance and the FBI claims is the leader of the paramilitary group the Oath Keepers, a charge that the man denied.
“Caldwell’s lawyer said his client retired as a lieutenant commander with the Navy and that he was a “100% disabled veteran,” The AP reported.
Caldwell suffered from complications related to a “service-connected injury,” including shoulder, back and knee issues, the attorney said. In 2010, Caldwell had spinal surgery, which later failed and led to chronic spinal issues and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the court filing.”
“An attorney for Thomas Edward Caldwell, 66, made the revelation in a court filing on Monday arguing for Caldwell’s release from detention pending trial,” The Hill reported.
“He has held a Top Secret Security Clearance since 1979 and has undergone multiple Special Background Investigations in support of his clearances,” Caldwell’s attorney wrote.
So the question is how did they not know about Caldwell’s actions, or did they know and overlook them?
Just the News reported on the story and said that Caldwell is one of the 12 people charged for conspiracy for Jan 6. Capitol riot was a section chief in the FBI.
Caldwell, a Navy veteran, worked as a section chief for the FBI from 2009 to 2010, and he also ran a consulting firm that performed work for several U.S. government agencies, his attorney wrote.
The FBI said Caldwell “appears to have a leadership role with the Oath Keepers,” a “large but loosely organized collection of militia” whose members think the federal government has been overtaken by a “shadow conspiracy,” according to a charging affidavit.
Law enforcement concluded Caldwell was an apparent Oath Keepers leader based on communications between him and “other known and unknown Oath Keepers members.”
The document accuses Caldwell of helping organize a group of eight to 10 people, who were seen on video footage wearing military gear and Oath Keeper paraphernalia “aggressively approaching” an entrance to the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Zoe Tillman reported:
“Thomas Caldwell, charged as a member of the alleged Oathkeepers conspiracy, is fighting pretrial detention — he argues there’s no evidence putting him inside the Capitol, and that the govt’s conspiracy evidence is thin. Caldwell’s lawyer also says he’s had “top-secret security clearance” since 1979, worked for the FBI, and did consulting work for multiple federal agencies.”
Caldwell's lawyer also says he's had "top secret security clearance" since 1979, worked for the FBI, and did consulting work for multiple federal agencies pic.twitter.com/q92eNr4EaK
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) February 9, 2021
Yet the FBI was not prepared?
“He has been vetted and found numerous times as a person worthy of the trust and confidence of the United States government, as indicated by granting him Top Secret clearances,” Thomas Plofchan, his lawyer wrote.
The AP reported on the case:
“Caldwell is one of three people authorities have described as Oath Keepers who were charged last month with conspiracy and accused of plotting the attack on the Capitol in advance. He has been locked up since his arrest at his home in Berryville, Virginia, on Jan. 19.
Caldwell’s lawyer said he denies ever going into the Capitol and has “physical limitations” that would prevent the 66-year-old from forcing his way into any building.
This is a very strange story and is developing…
Kari is an ex-Community Organizer who writes about Cultural Marxism, grassroots activism, music, IndyCar racing and political campaigns. @Saorsa1776
