Friday May 26, 2023
Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the riots at the US Capitol.
Rhodes was convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy and other crimes, making his sentence the longest ever handed down to a Capitol rioter. Prosecutors originally sought a 25-year prison sentence for Rhodes. Kelly Meggs, head of the Florida branch of the Oath Keepers, received 12 years in prison.
During the riots on January 6, 2021, Rhodes did not enter the Capitol building, but coordinated with Meggs and other members to storm the premises. Both Rhodes and Meggs were also convicted of obstruction of justice and tampering with documents. The trial was one of the most watched cases related to the Capitol riots.
Rhodes showed little remorse during the hearing, claiming to be a "political prisoner" and claiming that the Oath Keepers were against those "who are destroying our country". However, Judge Amit Mehta dismissed the claims, expressing concern over Rhodes' violent rhetoric, including a threat to hang former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The judge considered Rhodes a permanent threat to the country and its democracy.
Prosecutors sought a 25-year sentence for Rhodes and 21 years for Meggs, while defense attorneys argued for significantly lighter sentences of less than three years each. Rhodes, a former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. The group, made up of armed dissidents, has established itself as a staunch supporter of Donald Trump.
Among the Oath Keepers' actions leading up to the 6 January riots was Rhodes launching a campaign to reject the election results just days after the November 2020 vote. He sent a message to his supporters urging them to prepare for civil war. The group spent thousands of dollars on weapons and equipment that they stored in a hotel room in Virginia near the Capitol. During the riot, Rhodes stayed outside the building and coordinated activities while the other Oath Keepers, including those led by Meggs, forcibly entered. Prosecutors described Rhodes as a "battlefield general" during the chaotic events.
Rhodes and Meggs were convicted of seditious conspiracy, a rarely used Civil War-era law that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Defense attorneys plan to appeal the verdicts. To date, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the Capitol riots, with more than half pleading guilty to various charges. The US Department of Justice has announced approximately 80 guilty verdicts following trials.
