WASHINGTON:A man who authorities say is a leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group and helped to organize a ring of other extremists and led them in the attack last month at the U.S. Capitol has held a top-secret security clearance for decades and previously worked for the FBI, his attorney said Monday.
Thomas Caldwell, who authorities believe holds a leadership role in the extremist group, worked as a section chief for the FBI from 2009 to 2010 after retiring from the Navy, his lawyer, Thomas Plofchan, wrote in a motion urging the judge to release him from jail while he awaits trial.
The defense said Caldwell, who has denied being part of the Oath Keepers, has held a top-secret security clearance since 1979, which required multiple special background investigations, according to Plofchan. Caldwell also ran a consulting firm that did classified work for the U.S. government, the lawyer said.
“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," Plofchan wrote.
Most section chiefs within the FBI rise through the ranks of the bureau and it is unclear whether Caldwell would’ve been directly hired for that position or whether he held any other positions with the bureau. The FBI did not immediately comment Monday evening and Caldwell's lawyer didn’t immediately answer questions about his client's work.
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.
Caldwell’s lawyer said his client retired as a lieutenant commander with the Navy and that he was a “100% disabled veteran.” 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.
Charging documents show messages between Caldwell and the others about arranging hotel rooms in the Washington area in the days before the siege. In one Facebook message from to Caldwell, one the others says: “Will probably call you tomorrow … mainly because … I like to know wtf plan is. You are the man COMMANDER.”
Authorities say the Oath Keepers communicated during the attack about where lawmakers were. At one point during the siege, Caldwell received a message that said “all members are in the tunnels under the capital,” according to court documents. “Seal them in turn on gas," it said.
Other messages read: “Tom all legislators are down in the Tunnels 3floors down" and "go through back house chamber doors facing N left down hallway down steps," according to court documents.
Caldwell is among roughly 200 people charged so far in the siege for federal crimes such as disrupting Congress, disorderly conduct and assault. A special group of prosecutors is weighing whether to bring sedition charges, officials have said.
Several members of the Proud Boys, a far-right, male-chauvinist extremist group that seized on the Trump administration’s policies, have also been charged with conspiracy and accused of working together during the siege.
Reuters
Tue Feb 09 2021
In this Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, violent insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. AP pic
Bursa Malaysia meneruskan peningkatan pada awal dagangan
Pada 9.19 pagi, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) menambah 0.20 mata kepada 1,630.02 daripada 1,629.82 ketika ditutup pada Isnin.
AWANI Pagi: Hidup bersama COVID-19
Jom ketahui semua info penting tentang “Hidup Bersama COVID-19”! Langkah, pengurusan kes, vaksin, dan banyak lagi bersama Dr Aznida Mohamad Zaki, Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam, Bahagian Kawalan Penyakit Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia dalam Awani Pagi Selasa, 8.30 pagi.
Ringgit dibuka tinggi berbanding dolar AS
Pada jam 8 pagi, ringgit meningkat kepada 4.6695/6735 berbanding dolar US daripada 4.6725/6745 semalam.
YB Kinabatangan 'musykil' Ahli Parlimen PN pakai riben putih
Ahli Parlimen Kinabatangan Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin 'musykil' Ahli Parlimen Ahli Parlimen Perikatan Nasional (PN) guna lilitan riben putih.
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
Penguasaan bahasa Inggeris, KPM buka ruang kepada pesara beri cadangan
"Kalau sukarelawan Singapura nak datang, kita alu-alukan. Kalau guru-guru bersara nak berkhidmat dengan kita pun kita alu-alukan," kata Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek.
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
Pan Gon bakal umum letak jawatan hari ini?
Kim Pan-gon dipercayai akan mengadakan sidang akhbar hari ini untuk mengumumkan peletakan jawatannya.
AWANI Ringkas: Syor ambil guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura jadi tumpuan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Suspek kes kematian Nur Farah Kartini direman tujuh hari
Perintah reman terhadap suspek lelaki berusia 26 tahun itu dikeluarkan Hakim Nurul Mardhiah Mohammed Redza.
KPM teliti cadangan sukarelawan Guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura
Sukarelawan berbentuk hubungan diplomasi yang dibiayai kerajaan Singapura bagi bantu tingkatkan penguasaan bahasa Inggeris murid di kawasan miskin bandar dan luar bandar, kata Menteri Pendidikan.
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
Niaga AWANI: [Pasca IPO] Apa hala tuju Johor Plantations Group?
Johor Plantations Group (JPG) memperoleh RM735 juta daripada penyenaraiannya di pasaran utama Bursa Malaysia sejak 9 Julai lalu. Bagaimanakah pelan JPG untuk terus berdaya saing pada masa hadapan?
WHO sambut baik pemindahan perubatan pertama sejak penutupan Rafah
Lebih 10,000 orang perlu dipindahkan dan menerima rawatan perubatan di luar Gaza.
WHO beri amaran ubat diabetes palsu, banyak diguna untuk kurus badan
Ubat diabetes palsu telah diedarkan di seluruh dunia sejak 2022, Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) memberi amaran dalam satu kenyataan pada Khamis, lapor Agensi Berita Jerman (dpa).
Negara anggota WHO lanjutkan perbincangan perjanjian pandemik setahun lagi
INB akan meneruskan mandatnya untuk menyampaikan perjanjian itu menjelang Perhimpunan Kesihatan Sedunia pada 2025, atau lebih awal.
Promosi berleluasa, tanpa kawalan antara faktor pengaruhi remaja jadi perokok kekal - KKM
Di bawah Akta 852, KKM akan memperketatkan larangan penjualan, pembelian dan penggunaan semua jenis produk merokok kepada orang belum dewasa (OBD) yang berumur kurang 18 tahun.
Menteri Palestin mahu AS desak Israel buka lintasan Rafah
Majed Abu Ramadan berkata tidak ada petunjuk bahawa pihak berkuasa Israel akan berbuat perkara berkenaan dalam masa terdekat.
Sistem kesihatan Gaza lumpuh, Israel dikecam teruk dalam mesyuarat tahunan WHO
Beberapa negara anggota turut menyalahkan Israel atas risiko kebuluran yang semakin meningkat di Gaza.
GPW14 instrumen penting bentuk masa depan ekosistem kesihatan sejagat
Malaysia optimis kerjasama dengan WHO melalui GPW14 akan membentuk masa depan kesihatan global.
WHO gesa Israel tarik balik sekatan bantuan ke Gaza
Saluran utama untuk bantuan perubatan ke enklaf dari Mesir telah terputus.
Tiada bekalan perubatan diterima di Gaza selama 10 hari - WHO
Penutupan lintasan Rafah ke Gaza oleh Israel telah menyebabkan "situasi yang sukar."
WHO luluskan vaksin denggi baharu TAK-003
TAK-003 merupakan vaksin lemah hidup yang mengandungi versi lemah dari keempat-empat serotip virus yang menyebabkan denggi.