REVEALED: Florida sheriffs helped armed right-wing group prep for Jan. 6th insurrection
Video footage by an independent journalist captured a Florida sheriff briefing members of an armed right-wing group the day before they were headed to the Stop the Steal rally at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
According to the Daily Dot, the video shows the Homeland Security Division of the Flagler County, Florida Sheriff’s office meeting with the pro-Trump group, Flagler Liberty Coalition.
“The Flagler Liberty Coalition (FLC) recommended its members pack body armor, mace, and knives—which they said were for protection—and were working with Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins to bring crowds to D.C. that day. Mullins has faced criticism from his fellow local politicians for attending the protests that turned into the Capitol insurrection,” the Dot’s report stated. “Together, the group brought three buses of people to Washington on Jan. 6.”
Mullins was criticized for his presence at the Capitol on the day of the insurrection, and for using the official letterhead of the county commission in a letter to Florida’s congressional delegation, urging them to reject “certain states’” electoral votes during certification of Biden’s win.
U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio were also addressed in the letter – which pushed baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.
In the now-deleted video recorded by independent journalist Tracy Eaton, a sheriff is seen warning people to travel in groups and to beware of possible attacks by “Antifa.”
In another video, posted on Rumble by Daily Dot’s Eric Levai, Florida Liberty Coalition member Mark Phillips is seen instructing protestors to bring mace, body armor, face coverings, knives, “up to 3″, not a switchblade,” and helmets.
“The last thing we need is somebody throwing a rock, hitting somebody in the head,” said Phillips.
Filmed a the Flagler County Fairgrounds, Phillips said there wouldn’t be many stops on the bus ride so Capitol goers should, “Please bring some drinks, some snacks, a cooler.”
Phillips assured those not in “fight mode,” like the elderly – that they would be safe. Saying into the camera, “We will have people all around you to protect you.”
Florida Liberty Coalition made plans to meet up with other groups at the fairgrounds for the trip to D.C, and in Phillip’s words, “We need to take our country back, and we need to show up for our President.”
There have been rumors of law enforcement involvement in the events on the day of the Capitol attack, Daily Dot’s reporting may be the first concrete piece of evidence leading to a deeper conspiracy revealing an increasingly blurry line between an officer taking an oath – and breaking it.
Original reporting by Sky Palma at RawStory.
Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick
