Share
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was convicted Tuesday of seditious conspiracy for a violent plot to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential win, handing the Justice Department a major victory in its massive prosecution of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
A Washington, D.C., jury found Rhodes guilty of sedition after three days of deliberations in the the nearly two-month-long trial that showcased the far-right extremist group’s efforts to keep Republican Donald Trump in the White House at all costs.
The rarely used, Civil War-era charge calls for up to 20 years behind bars.
Rhodes didn’t go inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, but was accused of leading a plot that began shortly after the 2020 election to wage an armed rebellion to stop the transfer of presidential power.
Through recordings and encrypted messages, jurors heard how Rhodes rallied his followers to fight to keep Trump in office, warned of a possible “bloody” civil war and expressed regret that the Oath Keepers didn’t bring rifles to the Capitol on Jan. 6.
In an extraordinary move, Rhodes and two other defendants took the stand in their defense, opening themselves up to intense questioning from prosecutors. Rhodes told jurors there was no plan to attack the Capitol and insisted that his followers who went inside the building went rogue.
On trial alongside Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, were Kelly Meggs, leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers; Kenneth Harrelson, another Florida Oath Keeper; Thomas Caldwell, a retired Navy intelligence officer from Virginia; and Jessica Watkins, who led an Ohio militia group.
RELATED TOPICS:
Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft
10 hours ago
Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities
13 hours ago
Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day
13 hours ago
Paul Skenes Strikes Out 9, Wins Duel With Yamamoto in Pirates’ Victory Over Dodgers
14 hours ago
Eovaldi Outlasts Verlander as Rangers Beat Giants
14 hours ago
Rams Take Oregon Tight End Terrance Ferguson in Second Round After Trading Out of First
14 hours ago

Is It Bad to Chew Gum All Day?

Dollar Doubts Dominate Gathering of Global Economic Leaders

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

Wired Wednesday: What’s the Future of Fresno Unified and the Superintendent Position?

Zakaria Draws Parallels Between Trump’s Tariffs, Failed 1930s Economic Policies
