Meggs has since been charged with falsifying documents for the alleged act and has pleaded not guilty. “How about today, 10 days before trial, first they tell me you can give a defense tip,” Mehta yelled at Haller. The argument is indicative of the many legal issues still to be resolved before the five leaders of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group go on trial later this month — the first tumultuous conspiracy trial since Jan. 6. The trial will be a major test of the Justice Department’s decision to prosecute the rarely used class, and unresolved legal disputes could implicate how they choose to present their case. Haller said she only learned of the allegation after SoRelle, who was federally indicted two weeks ago, testified in a grand jury in June. Her testimony has not been reported before. SoRelle faces charges including obstruction of official process and obstruction of justice by telling others to delete information from their phones. He has pleaded not guilty. Mehta said the claim itself that SoRelle suggested others delete messages was not new. “I read it in the paper months ago,” Mehta yelled at Haller, adding, “I don’t buy it” and that “it was in the indictment.” “Which indictment? The first, the second, the sixth,” Haller yelled over Mehta. The two continued to cut each other down, Haller claiming it was new information and Mehta dismissing her arguments. The prosecutors shook their heads wildly. Mehta finally told Haller to sit down, but he didn’t. Another lawyer suggested a break in the hearing, to which Mehta shouted “no”.
