Top Pentagon Officials 'Likely Knew' About Alleged Capitol Insurrection, Journalist Says

The CNN report spotlighted claims from Jessica Watkins, a member of the right-wing extremist Oath Keepers accused of conspiracy linked to her involvement in the riot. Notably, attorneys for Watkins claimed in a new court filing that she obtained a VIP pass to the Stop the Steal Trump rally that preceded the riot and met with Secret Service agents.  

Not only that, the publication said the accused claimed she was providing security for "legislators and others" on the day of the alleged insurrection.

National political reporter Hugo Lowell noted in a Twitter thread that Watkins' new claim ties Trump's White House closer to the Capitol attack than previously believed.

Elsewhere in the thread, Lowell underlined that Watkins claimed in her recent filing that what she did was not attempting to overthrow the American government due to her belief that Trump would do so via the Insurrection Act. After this, she believed he would provide her with a "role."

Notably, Trump was previously accused of fueling the Capitol riot and was impeached for a second time for inciting insurrection.

As The Inquisitr reported, a previous filing revealed that Watkins claimed she waited for Trump to "activate" her team of Oath Keepers at the Capitol. 

In particular, Watkins allegedly expressed concern on November 9, 2020, that the alleged insurrection was an "elaborate trap." Given her worries, she suggested that it would not be "legit" unless Trump activated her team.

Watkins is accused of working with Thomas Caldwell — another alleged member of Oath Keepers and former FBI agent — to drive the crowd of protestors outside the Capitol into the building.

As reported by The Washington Post, Maj. Gen. William J. Walker — the commanding general of the D.C. National Guard — previously claimed that the Pentagon restricted his authority ahead of the Capitol riot, which stifled his ability to respond to events with military action.

"Local commanders typically have the power to take military action on their own to save lives or prevent significant property damage in an urgent situation when there isn’t enough time to obtain approval from headquarters," the publication claimed.