Page:Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.pdf/544



immediately preceding the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Text messages released by Edward Vallejo, an Oath Keeper charged with seditious conspiracy and other crimes, show that Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs discussed providing security for Stone. Some of these Oath Keepers guarded Stone during an event at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC on the night of January 5th. Stone was also flanked by Oath Keepers outside of the Willard Hotel on the morning of January 6th. One of the Oath Keepers who provided security for Stone was Joshua James, who pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy, obstruction of Congress and other charges in March 2022. James was also reportedly seen in Stone's hotel room at the Willard hours before the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Stone has a longstanding, close relationship with the Proud Boys. Stone has taken the Proud Boys oath and repeatedly defended the group. Danish documentarians filmed him working with Proud Boys for years. In one scene, filmed in 2019, Stone warmly greets Joe Biggs, a Proud Boys leader central to the Capitol violence. Stone says of Biggs: "My guy, right here." In a 2019 court case, Stone identified Enrique Tarrio as one of his volunteers, explaining that Tarrio had access to his phone and could post to Stone's Instagram account from it.