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Founding member of Oath Keepers enters guilty plea in Jan. 6 insurrection

A founding member of the Oath Keepers is the first to enter a guilty plea in his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, The Washington Post has learned.

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More than 400 people have been charged when supporters of former President Donald Trump left a rally held in front of the White House and stormed the Capitol as now current President Joe Biden’s election was being confirmed. They had hoped to put a stop to the confirmation vote.

The plea is exactly 100 days since the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Jon Ryan Schaffer pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress as well as other trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Both charges could bring a total of 30 years in prison, The New York Times reported.

He will though only get between three and a half to four and a half years in prison because of the deal, CNN reported.

Schaffer admitted to carrying bear spray into the Capitol, CNN reported.

He will now help prosecutors against other defendants, the Post reported.

The newspaper reported that prosecutors are working with defendants to understand how the rally and the subsequent events were planned. They’re gathering insight into groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.

Schaffer has behind bars since he turned himself in to FBI in Indianapolis on Jan. 18, the Post reported.

He was photographed wearing a hat that said “Oath Keepers Lifetime Member” that he claimed he bought from a fan of his band, CNN reported.

Schaffer had been charged with six crimes, including an act of physical violence and targeting police with bear spray. He will plead guilty to two charges, both felonies. Those charges are the

About a quarter of defendants are facing similar charges, the Post reported.

The agreement includes prosecutors sponsoring him for the Witness Protection program, the Times reported.