Joshua James of Alabama is accused of entering the Capitol illegally on Jan. 6.
March 10, 2021, 3:08 AM
• 4 min read
Share to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleThe Justice Department on Tuesday unsealed charges against Joshua James of Alabama, accused in an FBI affidavit of being a member of the Oath Keepers militia group who entered the Capitol illegally on Jan. 6 in order to obstruct Congress' certification of President Joe Biden's election victory.
According to the FBI affidavit for James' arrest, he was identified in photos taken inside the U.S. Capitol, wearing a black hat with the words "Oath Keepers," as well as a distinctive badge and orange paracord.
Photos from the day before appear to show a man with similar items of clothing accompanying longtime Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone at both Freedom Plaza and at an event near the U.S. Supreme Court.
According to court records, James was arrested Tuesday in Alabama, where prosecutors in a U.S. attorney's office have requested he be detained pending further legal proceedings in his case.
Pardoned GOP strategist and convicted felon Roger Stone, prepares to leave after he spoke on the steps of the Supreme Court to Trump supporters across from the U.S. Capitol, on Jan. 5, 2021, in Washington D.C.
James is facing charges of obstruction of Congress and unlawful entry. He did not have an attorney listed for him as of Tuesday evening.
The FBI's affidavit describes James as joining with other Oath Keepers who "served as a security detail for a speaker at the 'Stop the Steal' rallies and events" on Jan. 5 and 6, without specifically identifying the speaker's name.
On Monday, Robert Minuta of New York was arrested on charges in connection with the Capitol riot, after video first unearthed by ABC News showed him and other Oath Keepers flanking Stone on the morning of Jan. 6 outside a Washington hotel.
Minuta, who also faces charges of obstruction of Congress and unlawful entry, has not yet entered a plea in his case and was released on bond by a New York magistrate judge.
Members of the Oath Keepers provide security to Roger Stone at a rally the night before groups attacked the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., Jan. 5, 2021.
In a statement to ABC News on Monday, Stone denied knowing Minuta and said he was not "familiar with his name prior to his being identified in earlier media stories where it was alleged that he was involved in illegal events up at the Capitol."
"If he was indeed among those who volunteered to provide security while I visited Washington, D.C., I was unaware of it," Stone said.
