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In a selfie-video uploaded to Parler, two members of the Oath Keepers, a right-wing paramilitary group, cheer as they pan the Rotunda. “We took the Capitol!” Now, both face federal conspiracy charges. We tracked their movements on Jan. 6: https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000007560342/we-took-over-the-capitol-tracking-the-oath-keepers-charged-with-conspiracy.html
Both Donovan Crowl (50) and Jessica Watkins (38) are Oath Keepers from Woodstock, rural Ohio. They're charged with multiple federal crimes, alongside a third militia member, Thomas Caldwell (65) from Berryville, Virginia's countryside. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/19/us/politics/oath-keepers-capitol-riot.html
Crowl and Watkins are seen ascending the Capitol's east steps as if in military formation with 9 others at 2:35 p.m. — roughly ten minutes after the first breach of the east doors. Filmed by @rstevensbrody, it quickly became one of the most notorious videos of the insurrection.
As Watkins walks up these stairs, she films the crowd that has gathered at the east side of the Capitol. Watkins is briefly visible alongside several other apparent Oath Keepers. Not much later, the video was uploaded to Parler, a social network popular with Trump supporters.
For context, these Oath Keepers ascend the east Capitol's stairs while the mob at the west side has already entered the building, knocked on Senate doors and are about to reach the House. More on that timeline here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/12/us/capitol-mob-timeline.html
On top of the stairs, Crowl and Watkins are filmed by @FordFischer. This is around 2:43 p.m. and they're going toward the breached east doors of the Capitol alongside several other apparent Oath Keepers.
Minutes later, by 2:45 p.m., these Oath Keepers arre inside the Rotunda, where Crowl makes that selfie-video while Watkins peeks over his shoulder, showing the V sign. “We’re in the f—— Capitol, bro!”
The third Oath Keeper charged with conspiracy, Thomas Caldwell, is spotted on the west side. “Every single f—— one in there is a traitor,” he's tells @thisisinsider while looking at the congressional building.
The F.B.I. believes Thomas Caldwell is a leader in the Oath Keepers, sometimes referred to as “Commander Tom.” Here’s him posing for a photo at a mock White House rostrum during the CPAC event in 2019.
According to the affidavit, Caldwell messaged Watkins via Facebook on Jan. 1, saying that “This one we are doing on our own.” It’s believed to be a reference to the lack of a call of action from the Oath Keepers’ founder Stewart Rhodes.
Watkins got as far as the Senate chamber, she bragged on Parler. Her profile, archived by internet sleuths, shows that she was very open about forcing her way into the Capitol. https://web.archive.org/web/20210107170810/https:/parler.com/profile/OhioStateRegulars/posts
At 3:14 p.m., about 30 minutes after they entered, the Oath Keepers appear to have left the Capitol via the same door, where @nytimes filmed them gathered in a group.
It’s unclear whether the U.S. government will charge more Oath Keepers in connection with the Capitol insurrection, but we’ve seen more than two dozen individuals in Jan. 6 footage wearing insignia or operating alongside side known members.
A week ago, when interviewed by @OhioCapJournal's @jake_zuckerman, Watkins didn't consider herself as having committed a crime. “We were very respectful with Capitol Hill PD until they attacked us,” she wrote on Parler. https://twitter.com/jake_zuckerman/status/1349347754246549505
Similar excellent reporting has been done on Crowl, with many clues gathered by @jsrailton, and his identity first publicly revealed by @RonanFarrow ( https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/an-air-force-combat-veteran-breached-the-senate). @AlexCrawfordSky visited Woodstock ( https://news.sky.com/story/tracking-down-the-militia-among-the-oath-keepers-who-stormed-the-us-capitol-12190150). And, kudos to many online investigators.
Last but not least, internet sleuths have pointed out that some individuals with the Crowl/Watkins group were spotted with the Oath Keepers’ founder Stewart Rhodes southeast of the Capitol after the breach, between 4-4:30 p.m. https://twitter.com/SilentSamIAm/status/1347726593473523715
This was a short, survey-like video — but as always, it's a collaborative effort (we're a team, duh): @_stella_cooper @evanchill @markscheffler @DrewJordan_NYT @dim109 @timwolfer @jenvalentino @btdecker @robinnyc7 and ofc the wider team working to our ever-expanding spreadsheets.
So far, our Visual Investigations team has analyzed hundreds of videos and worked with @nytimes colleagues to deconstruct key moments. We will continue to do so. Check our work on the Capitol insurrection here: https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/us-capitol-riots-investigations
