26-5-2023 (Washington) Founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group, Stewart Rhodes, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for masterminding a weeks-long plot that culminated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This marks the first seditious conspiracy conviction in relation to the attack, and the sentence is the longest handed down thus far in the numerous Capitol riot cases.
The sentencing is a significant development in the ongoing investigation by the Justice Department into the events of January 6. The department has secured seditious conspiracy convictions against leaders of extremist groups who were determined to fight to keep former President Donald Trump in power. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the Justice Department will continue its efforts to hold those responsible for the attack accountable.
In an unprecedented move for a January 6 case, the judge agreed with the Justice Department’s argument that Rhodes’ actions should be treated as “terrorism,” leading to an increased recommended sentence under federal guidelines. This decision could set a precedent for the sentencing of other far-right extremists convicted under the same charge, such as former leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, before delivering Rhodes’ sentence, described him as an ongoing threat to the United States and its democracy. The judge expressed concerns about the possibility of a similar incident occurring in the future, stating that Americans will now approach each election with apprehension.
Rhodes, who appeared in court wearing orange jail clothes, did not express remorse or request leniency during the proceedings. Instead, he proclaimed himself a “political prisoner” and criticized both prosecutors and the Biden administration. However, Judge Mehta firmly asserted that Rhodes was not prosecuted for his political beliefs but for his actions, which were deemed an offense against the nation.
Kelly Meggs, another Oath Keeper convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside Rhodes, received a 12-year prison sentence on the same day. Meggs expressed regret for his involvement in the riot but denied intending to enter the Capitol.
More Oath Keepers are expected to be sentenced in the coming days. Rhodes’ arrest in January 2022 marked the culmination of his extremist activities, including armed confrontations with federal authorities at Nevada’s Bundy Ranch. As the founder of the Oath Keepers, Rhodes transformed it into one of the largest far-right antigovernment militia groups in the U.S., although its influence has waned following the arrests of its members.
