Feds Arrest Oath Keepers Leader Who Tried to Overturn Election Using ‘Lord of the Rings’

Kellye SoRelle, a member of Lawyers for Trump and interim leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia, was arrested Thursday morning on conspiracy charges related to the Capitol riot, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C.

SoRelle, who attempted to sue every member of Congress, every governor, and every secretary of state in a lawsuit that justified overturning the election using Lord of the Rings logic, was arrested in Junction, Texas. She is expected to appear later Thursday at a courthouse in Austin. The failed Texas House candidate was indicted Wednesday for conspiring and organizing to impede Congress’ certification of the 2020 presidential election on Jan. 6, 2021.

A bare-bones indictment charges her with three felonies: conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and aiding and abetting of an official proceeding, and obstruction of justice for tampering with documents, including altering or destroying objects to make them unusable in a grand jury investigation.

The pro-Trump attorney faces an additional misdemeanor charge for remaining on Capitol grounds during the riot.

Oath Keepers Founder Secretly Backed Lawsuit for Government Based on ‘Lord of the Rings’

In a separate, sweeping indictment from earlier this year, the feds accused the Oath Keepers of coordinating an attack on the Capitol to “oppose by force” the transfer of the presidency ahead of Jan. 20, 2021.

Leaders of the group allegedly organized travel to D.C. ahead of Jan. 6 and methodically distributed weapons and paramilitary gear among their ranks before “breaching and attempting to take control of the Capitol grounds and building,” the indictment says. The group, which primarily recruits military, law enforcement, and first-responder personnel, were also accused of using force against Capitol police inside the building.

The 11 Oath Keepers named in that indictment, including former leader and founder Stewart Rhodes, were charged with conspiracy offenses as well as seditious conspiracy, a crime similar to treason.

SoRelle’s charges curiously don’t include seditious conspiracy.

In her now notorious fantasy-inspired lawsuit, SoRelle argued that Joe Biden was not intended to take office and the rightful ruler, like King Aragorn of Lord of the Rings, would someday return. The federal government should use “stewards” appointed from former President Donald Trump’s cabinet to temporarily rule instead, the bonkers filing argued.

The Daily Beast did not immediately receive a reply to requests for comment sent to SoRelle’s professional and personal email addresses and phone numbers on Thursday.

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