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WASHINGTON – A man who officials say is a leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia and helped organize a circle of other extremists and led them into last month’s attack on the U.S. Capitol has held a top-secret security clearance for decades and previously worked for the FBI, his lawyer said Monday.
Thomas Caldwell, who authorities say plays 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 attorney, Thomas Plofchan, wrote in a request urging the judge to release him from prison. while awaiting trial.
The defense said Caldwell, who denied being with the Oath Keepers, had held a top-secret security clearance since 1979, which necessitated several special background inquiries, according to Plofchan. Caldwell also ran a consulting firm that did classified work for the U.S. government, the lawyer said.
“He has been examined and found on numerous occasions to be a person worthy of the trust and confidence of the United States government, as shown in granting him Top Secret clearances,” Plofchan wrote.
The FBI did not immediately comment on Monday evening.
Caldwell is one of three people authorities have described as Oath Keepers who were charged last month with conspiracy and accused of planning the attack on the Capitol in advance. He has been locked up since his arrest at his home in Berryville, Va., On January 19.
Caldwell’s attorney said he denies ever entering the Capitol and that he has “physical limitations” that would prevent the 66-year-old from making his way into any building.
Caldwell’s attorney said his client had retired as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy and was a “100% disabled veteran.” Caldwell suffered complications from a “service-related injury,” including shoulder, back and knee problems, the attorney said. In 2010, Caldwell underwent spine surgery, which later failed and led to chronic spine problems and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the court record.
The impeachment documents show messages between Caldwell and the others regarding the arrangement of hotel rooms in the Washington area in the days leading up to the siege. In a Facebook post from to Caldwell, one of the others said, “I’ll probably call you tomorrow… mainly because… I like knowing what the plan is.” You are the COMMANDER man.
Authorities say oath-keepers communicated during the attack on the whereabouts of lawmakers. At one point during the siege, Caldwell received a message saying “all members are in the tunnels under the capital,” according to court documents. “Seal them in turn with gas,” he said.
Other posts read: “Tom, all lawmakers are downstairs in the tunnels 3 floors down” and “through the back chamber doors facing N left into the hallway downstairs,” according to court documents.
Caldwell is among some 200 people indicted so far in the headquarters for federal crimes such as disrupting Congress, disorderly conduct and assault. A panel of prosecutors is considering whether to lay sedition charges, officials said.
Several members of the Proud Boys, a chauvinist far-right extremist group that has taken over the policies of the Trump administration, have also been charged with conspiracy and accused of working together during the siege.
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