Actor James Beeks, known for his role in the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar,” has been acquitted of January 6 related charges after being accused of conspiring with the Oath Keepers to obstruct the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta acquitted Beeks of the obstruction charge and a civil disorder charge on Wednesday, making Beeks one of the few defendants to be found not guilty for charges stemming from the January 6 riot.
“I feel great. I feel like a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulder, and I couldn’t be happier,” Beeks, 51, said in an interview after the decision, adding that he didn’t know much about the Oath Keepers prior to joining the group in the weeks leading up to the protest over the 2020 election.
“I made a mistake. It has ruined my reputation, especially in the entertainment industry that I worked so hard to build. I was at the apex of my career,” he said in another statement after the ruling.
Beeks played the character of Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar” and has appeared in several other Broadway shows, including “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” “Ragtime,” “Aida,” and “Kinky Boots.”
According to Mehta, Beeks was unaware of any plan to storm the U.S. Capitol, so the conspiracy charge was irrelevant.
“If he didn’t know what others intended, he couldn’t intend to do it,” lawyer Greg Hunter said.
Mehta did find Beeks’ co-defendant, Donovan Crowl, guilty of two charges after the stipulated bench trial. Crowl was also a member of the Oath Keepers.
A lawyer for Crowl said he was in Washington, D.C., on January 6 to exercise his First Amendment rights.
“His conduct was no different than that of many Americans who’ve gone to Congress to peacefully protest and have not been charged with felonies,” lawyer Carmen Hernandez said.
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In May, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other charges. Federal prosecutors accused Rhodes of “terrorism” while Rhodes said he was a political prisoner.
“I’m a political prisoner, and like President Trump, my only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country,” he said before he was sentenced.
He also said that no member of the Oath Keepers took part in violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 and argued that defendants are being “grossly overcharged.”