The in charge plea is every other primary step within the felony case in opposition to the Oath Keepers, as prosecutors paintings to turn how they imagine the crowd of fellows plotted to stash guns around the Potomac River, pass to the Capitol and forestall Congress’ certification of the Electoral Faculty vote. The case has grown dramatically during the last 12 months, depending partially on explosive non-public messages between Oath Keepers leaders, video of the crowd from the week they have been in DC, and the cooperation of no less than six different Capitol revolt defendants with ties to the Oath Keepers group.
“Did you do this, believe [Oath Keepers leader Stewart] Rhodes and increase a plan to forestall the lawful switch of presidential energy, by means of drive, on January 6, 2021” US District Pass judgement on Amit Mehta requested right through the listening to on Friday.
“Sure, your honor” Ulrich stated.
Rhodes, who may be charged with seditious conspiracy, has pleaded now not in charge.
Ulrich, who now and then gave the look to be crying right through the listening to, additionally agreed that he “meant to persuade and impact behavior of the US govt and to retaliate in opposition to the US govt.”
At one level, Mehta requested whether or not Ulrich wanted time to collect himself. Ulrich to start with declined, pronouncing that “it is not going to get any more straightforward,” however later authorised — taking a second to audibly weep and gasp for air.
Ulrich, who’s from Georgia, used to be a part of an Oath Keepers management Sign chat the place he, Rhodes and others deliberate for January 6. The messages, which might be quoted in court docket paperwork, display how Ulrich many times requested about bringing weapons to DC as a part of a handy guide a rough response drive.
“Somebody can inform me if I am loopy however I am making plans on having a backpack for normal use after which a separate backpack with my ammo” Ulrich messaged the management chat in past due December, including that “I can be the man operating round with the ‘finances AR.'” In every other message days later, Ulrich requested Joshua James about firearms and a possible plan to “degree them in VA.”
Different messages that Ulrich despatched to participants of the Georgia Oath Keepers stated that “civil warfare” may well be important if then President-elect Biden used to be inaugurated.
“We should win. We should defeat those radicals,” Ulrich wrote in a single message, “there may be treason at paintings right here. When somebody dedicated treason it used to imply one thing. you used to pay along with your lifestyles!” In every other message, Ulrich referenced a “Ruby ridge situation that we will rally at the back of.”
Ulrich, James, and Oath Keeper Mark Grods traveled in combination to DC on January 4. In his personal plea settlement, James admitted to bringing a semi-automatic handgun at the travel, and stated Grods and others introduced firearms, together with a rifle, a shotgun, a semi-automatic handgun, and ammunition to a Virginia lodge. Grods has additionally pleaded in charge and is cooperating with the investigation.