Broadway actor acquitted of Jan. 6 riot charges: report
Judge Amit Mehta acquitted Oath Keeper member James Beeks on Wednesday, the first Jan. 6 rioter to be cleared of all charges thus far.
Beeks, a former Broadway actor, pastor and Michael Jackson impersonator was arrested in Nov. 2021 while playing the role of Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar."
He has long proclaimed his innocence and agreed to waive a jury trial to allow Mehta to decide the case – and it worked out in his favor, WUSA reporter Jordan Fischer tweeted.
Among the arguments he made to the judge was that he had “divine” authority and the government had no jurisdiction over him - an argument commonly espoused by believers of sovereign citizenship, though he didn't say he was bought into that movement.
At the same time James and Casey Cusick, two pastors from Florida, and a member of their church, John Lesperance, were standing trial in the same Washington, DC courtroom for their part in Jan. 6.
Beeks argued that he only joined the Oath Keepers a few weeks before the Jan. 6 attack and hadn't been involved in any of the plots or planning. On Jan. 6 he joined them in creating a formation upon entrance of the Capitol.
He faced seven counts, but was acquitted on all of them.