Alabama man accused of participating in riot on U.S. Capitol charged with 2 counts
Published 5:57 am Wednesday, March 10, 2021
An Alabama man has been charged with two counts in connection with his alleged role in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.
An indictment against Joshua James, 33, of Arab was unsealed Tuesday, one day after prosecutors reported they had charged Roberto Minuta, a reported member of the Oath Keepers and security guard for longtime Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone.
James reportedly had contact with the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group, before the Jan. 6 riots and congregated with them inside the Capitol when the building was breached, according to an affidavit from an FBI special agent filed in D.C. Circuit Court.
James had been reportedly seen in photos flanking Roger Stone before the riot and was later seen on camera inside the U.S. Capitol amid a crush of rioters who overran police.
James was also pictured standing with other Oath Keepers, including Kelly Meggs, the self-proclaimed leader of the Florida Oath Keepers who was also charged with storming the Capitol, during the riots, the FBI agent claimed.
Phone records showed James had been in contact with one of the Oath Keepers several times on Jan. 5, exchanging six calls with the undisclosed member that day. James was also reportedly in contact with members on the morning of the riots.
James was arrested Tuesday in Arab, according to court filings. He was charged with obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting and being in a restricted building or grounds.