The ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ actor who represented himself at the trial on January 6 and claimed he did not know the plan to storm the Capitol was acquitted of all charges.
Becks was acquitted of all charges, including conspiracy and civil disorder, by US District Judge Amit P Mehta. The actor represented himself for most of the trial but has now recused himself from the oath-keepers, allowing an attorney to present his closing arguments. Said he was unaware of their ‘ulterior motive’
A ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ actor who represented himself during the January 6 trial and claimed he was unaware of the plot to storm the Capitol has been acquitted of all charges.
James Becks, 51 — who joined the far-right militia The Oath Keepers, involved in planning and executing the Capitol riots — was charged with conspiracy and civil disorder as well as participating in the riots.
The charges were filed by US District Judge Amit P. That was dismissed by Mehta who said prosecutors presented almost no evidence that Floridians were aware of the group’s plan to storm the capital and block certification of Electoral College votes.
Beeks represented himself for most of his case but allowed standby counsel Greg Hunter to deliver his closing arguments Tuesday.
He did not deny joining the oath keepers in the weeks leading up to January 6 but argued that he had no knowledge of the conspiracy to obstruct the Electoral College certification.
“I want to go to Disneyworld, I feel so good,” Becks told WUSA9 while speaking outside a federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
Beeks, 51, was charged Jan. 6 with rioting (pictured) and conspiracy and participating in civil disorder.
“I want to go to Disneyworld, I feel great,” the actor told WUSA9 while speaking outside a federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
‘I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I couldn’t be happier.’
Asked how he felt when his co-defendant Donovan Kroll was found guilty on both counts, Becks replied ‘I was sweating bullets, I even wrote a note to my attorney saying “I think we screwed up” but he I was told to wait.
Adding: ‘When he [the judge] Started reading my calculations and operations I felt a lot more confident that it was going to go the way we wanted it to go.’
Beeks made it clear she distanced herself from Oath Keepers, telling the outlet: ‘I didn’t know anything about them, I didn’t know what their intentions were.
‘I only knew what the public statements were and I saw what was happening after the event.
‘I think the judge made a really good decision about it because I didn’t know, and it proves intent, at least in my case.
‘I’m happy with the way it turned out,’ he said.
Florida Oath Keepers leaders Kelly Meigs and Stuart Rhodes were convicted of treasonous conspiracy along with other members who participated in the chatroom planning and rioting in the capital.
Beeks, 51, joined the far-right Oath Keepers militia involved in planning and executing the Capitol riots in January 2021.
Beeks has since distanced himself from the group, saying he was not aware of their ‘ulterior motives’
The actor was charged with six counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, tampering with a witness, destruction of government property and civil disorder.
Becks was playing Judas in a Minneapolis production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar when he was arrested in November 2021.
He was indicted on six counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, tampering with a witness, destruction of government property and civil disorder.
Beeks waived his right to a jury trial, choosing instead to represent himself and be tried by Judge Amit Mehta.
Prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining four after Judge Mehta acquitted Becks of two charges.
Beeks is the first member of the Oath Keepers acquitted of all counts and only the second defendant to be acquitted of all counts on Jan. 6.