Topline
Stewart Rhodes—the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia—was found guilty on charges of seditious conspiracy Tuesday, according to multiple news outlets, nearly two years after a crowd supporting President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers.
Key Facts
After three days of deliberations, jurors also found fellow Oath Keeper Kelly Meggs guilty of seditious conspiracy, while three other defendants—Kenneth Harrelson, Thomas Caldwell and Jessica Watkins—were acquitted, CNN and NBC reported.
All five defendants were also reportedly found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding after they tried to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s election win on January 6, 2021.
Prosecutors argued Rhodes and the other co-defendants “agreed to do whatever was necessary, up to and including force and violence, to stop the [2020] election result from becoming finalized” on January 6, according to a Reuters report.
James Lee Bright, one of Rhodes’ attorneys, argued “there was no plan” or “meeting of the minds” for the group to attack the Capitol, with Rhodes—who has not been accused of entering the Capitol—calling some rioters’ decision to enter the building “off-mission.”
The conviction on a charge of sedition or treason is rare in U.S. history, according to the Associated Press, as fewer than 12 Americans have ever been convicted.
Rhodes and Meggs could face a maximum of 20 years in prison for the seditious conspiracy charges.
Crucial Quote
“Our democracy is fragile,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy said during her closing arguments, adding Rhodes had repeatedly called for the “violent overthrow” of the U.S. government following Biden’s election victory, according to the AP. “It cannot exist without respect for the rule of law, and it will not survive if people dissatisfied with the results of an election can use force and violence to change the outcome.”
Key Background
Rhodes served in the military between 1983 and 1989 before working for Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). He then founded the Oath Keepers, a nationwide right-wing militia group, in 2009 after he says he witnessed President George W. Bush abusing his presidency, according to the New York Times. Following the outcome of the 2020 election, Oath Keepers acted as security guards at pro-Trump rallies in Washington D.C. Rhodes has since denied any involvement in the January 6 assault on the Capitol, adding “it was nowhere in the mission scope at all” during his testimony. Three members of the group have since pleaded guilty to charges of seditious conspiracy, including Brian Ulrich, William Todd Wilson and Joshua James. Several members of the far-right Proud Boys were also charged with seditious conspiracy for their alleged role in the Capitol riot, one of the most severe charges leveled against the over 900 riot defendants.
Tangent
The Justice Department last secured a guilty verdict on seditious conspiracy charges in 1995, when an Egyptian cleric and nine followers were convicted of plotting to bomb New York City landmarks. Several members of a Christian militia group were charged with seditious conspiracy more than a decade ago, but a judge dismissed the charges.
Further Reading
Trump May Testify To Jan. 6 Committee As Deadline Looms, Liz Cheney Suggests (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2022/11/29/oath-keepers-trial-founder-stewart-rhodes-found-guilty-of-seditious-conspiracy-in-a-first-since-1995/