Oath Keepers Trial: Security Detailee Heard No Talk of Storming the Capitol

A view of the U.S. Capitol from the Capitol Reflecting pool on January 06, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON—Another attendee of the events on Jan. 6, 2021, took the witness stand on Nov. 9 at the federal courthouse in Washington, explaining that his duty on that day was to provide security services.

Michael Greene, 39, voluntarily waived his Fifth Amendment right to testify in the Oath Keepers trial. He is a defendant in another Jan. 6 trial expected to unfold next year.

Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers founder and one of the defendants on trial, hired Greene to protect Kellye SoRelle, Rhodes’ former attorney, at different events. Rhodes also Greene to be in charge of the security team on Jan. 6, 2021, because an Oath Keeper member who was supposed to be the security lead had contracted COVID-19.

A defense attorney questioned Greene if he had ever witnessed a discussion during all the events he was at with the Oath Keepers about whether to storm the Capitol, stop the certification of Electoral College votes, or overthrow the U.S. government. Greene responded “no” to all questions.

When he heard that the Capitol had been breached, Greene explained, he tried to contact Rhodes, but to no avail. During cross-examination, the government showed a conference call between Greene, Rhodes, and Kelly Meggs, Rhodes’ co-defendant. Greene didn’t remember having a phone call with Rhodes and Meggs simultaneously. He said that could have been an error given that phone lines weren’t operating normally at that time on January 6.

Then Greene gathered the Oath Keepers together in an attempt to leave the Capitol area if they weren’t on a mission anymore. Greene testified that by “mission” he meant providing security and escorting speakers from the stage to their cars.

“Did you assign anyone on a mission to enter the Rotunda or delay certification of the election?” asked a defense lawyer. Greene responded, “no.”

Greene confirmed that before January 6, Rhodes added him to various Signal group chats, where he often wasn’t active. He said he participated in some GoToMeeting calls. However, Greene told the court that he was not part of the Oath Keepers organization.

“Were you just a mercenary?” questioned Jeffrey Nestler, a prosecutor.

“I wasn’t fighting any war for pay,” Greene responded.

“What about fighting wars for Stewart Rhodes?” Nestler continued, referring to Jan. 6, 2021.

“That was a riot,” Greene said.

Greene joined the Army after graduating from high school in 2002 and chose a combat position “because I didn’t want to sit around and do nothing,” he told the court. He also served in Iraq for one year, and when he returned, he started to work for security companies doing personal security detail (PSD) for various branches of the government. Greene has a PSD license in two states: Texas and Virginia.

Before getting to know the Oath Keepers, Greene said he distanced himself from them because he thought they were white supremacists.

However, his opinion changed after he spoke with his African American friend, who is part of the Oath Keepers. He then described the Oath Keepers’ organization as a solid group providing security, especially for business owners who couldn’t afford it.

Nestler displayed more exhibits, previously shown multiple times during the Oath Keepers trial, where Rhodes talks about an allegedly upcoming civil war.

Greene told him that Rhodes’ rhetoric is similar to how old guys speak in a barber shop about a fight. But Greene also pointed out how divided America is, with many violent riots damaging buildings and businesses, explaining that talking about war is not such a strange topic given the country’s situation.

“And the Oath Keepers will be on the front line?” Nestler asked.

“Who knows? We don’t know until it happens. Maybe you will be, too,” Greene said.

After Greene’s testimony, the defense for Rhodes rested their case.

Rhodes, Meggs, Keeneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell have been charged with multiple crimes, including seditious conspiracy.

The trial will resume on Nov. 14.