WASHINGTON — A former Navy intelligence officer was spared additional prison time during his sentencing on Friday, following his involvement in the Capitol riots alongside Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers. Thomas Caldwell had previously been acquitted by a jury in federal court of the most serious charges related to the January 6, 2021, insurrection, including seditious conspiracy and two lesser conspiracy charges. Furthermore, one of the two counts he was found guilty on earlier in the trial was dismissed after a recent Supreme Court decision.
During the trial, prosecutors contended that Caldwell was instrumental in organizing “quick reaction force” teams, which they alleged were ready outside the Capitol with arms to assist extremists if necessary. However, the claimed weapons were never put into action, and attorneys representing the Oath Keepers argued that such measures were purely defensive against potential left-wing aggressions.
Although Caldwell never breached the Capitol himself, he took the stand in his defense and downplayed questionable messages he sent prior to January 6, including a suggestion about using a boat to transport “heavy weapons” across the Potomac River. Caldwell explained that these comments were not genuine intentions but rather “creative writing.”
His legal counsel highlighted Caldwell’s status as a disabled veteran, emphasizing his physical limitations and asserting that he “couldn’t storm his way out of a paper bag.” Attorney David Fischer argued convincingly that there was no conspiracy to assault the Capitol, noting that Caldwell had not planned to attend the riot until he heard former President Trump’s speech at the Ellipse, which called on his supporters to “fight like hell.”
Prosecutors sought a four-year prison sentence for Caldwell following his conviction on an obstruction of justice charge, stemming from his deletion of communications post-riot. They characterized him in their court submissions as “an avid and willing participant in an unprecedented crime.”
In seeking leniency, Caldwell’s attorney told U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta that the acquittal on the more serious charges, paired with Caldwell’s military background leading to sustained injuries, warranted a sentence of time served. Having spent over 50 days incarcerated after his arrest in 2021, Caldwell’s legal team advocated for no further jail time.
“Mr. Caldwell was cleared of the four most serious counts and sentenced to no additional jail time by a highly respected federal judge,” Fischer expressed in a correspondence. He further suggested that Caldwell deserves consideration for a pardon from President Trump.
President Trump has hinted at the possibility of pardoning many among the nearly 1,500 individuals charged with federal offenses in what has become the largest investigation ever conducted by the Justice Department.
In a related note, Rhodes, the Oath Keepers’ leader, faces a significant 18-year prison term after being convicted along with 14 others in a seditious conspiracy aimed at keeping Trump in power, as outlined by the prosecution.
