He was sentenced Thursday after a landmark verdict convicting him of spearheading a weekslong plot to keep former President Donald Trump in power. Rhodes has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy in the Jan. FILE – Stewart Rhodes, the founder of Oath Keepers, speaks during a gun rights rally at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, Conn., April 20, 2013.
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And four other members found guilty of seditious conspiracy at a second trial in January are scheduled to be sentenced next week. Two other Oath Keepers, acquitted of the sedition charge but convicted of other offenses, will be sentenced Friday. 6), you put it on Trump, right-wing media, politicians, all the people who spun that narrative,” Linder said.Īnother Oath Keeper convicted alongside Rhodes in November - Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs - was expected to receive his sentence later Thursday. Attorney Phillip Linder told the judge that Rhodes could have had many more Oath Keepers come to the Capitol “if he really wanted to” disrupt Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote. “Not defendant Rhodes.”Ī lawyer for Rhodes, who plans to appeal his conviction, said prosecutors are unfairly trying to make Rhodes “the face” of January 6. People “across the political spectrum” want to believe that Jan. In remarks just days ago, Rhodes called for “regime change,” the prosecutor said. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes has given from jail repeating the lie 2020 election was stolen and saying it would be again in 2024. Prosecutors argued that a lengthy sentence is necessary to deter future political violence. FILE – Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, center, speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington, June 25, 2017. District Judge Amit Mehta agreed with prosecutors to apply enhanced penalties for “terrorism,” under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through “intimidation or coercion.” Judges in previous sentencings had shot down the Justice Department’s request for the so-called “terrorism enhancement” - which can lead to a longer prison term - but Mehta said it fits in Rhodes’ case. “I’m a political prisoner and like President Trump my only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country,” Rhodes said. In remarks shortly before the judge handed down the sentence, Rhodes slammed the prosecution as politically motivated, noted that he never went inside the Capitol and insisted he never told anyone else to do so. (Collin County Sheriff’s Office via AP, File) District Judge Amit Mehta said.įILE – This photo provided by the Collin County Sheriff’s Office shows Stewart Rhodes. “The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government,” U.S. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)īefore handing down the sentence, the judge told a defiant Rhodes that he is a continued threat to the U.S., saying it’s clear Rhodes “wants democracy in this country to devolve into violence.” FILE – Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington, June 25, 2017. 6 investigation, which has led to seditious conspiracy convictions against the top leaders of two far-right extremist groups authorities say came to Washington prepared to fight to keep President Donald Trump in power at all costs. It’s another milestone for the Justice Department’s sprawling Jan. 6, 2021, attack to be sentenced for seditious conspiracy, and his sentence is the longest that has been handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases. Stewart Rhodes is the first person charged in the Jan. Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after the 2020 election. WASHINGTON - The founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weeks-long plot that culminated in his followers attacking the U.S.
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and LINDSAY WHITEHURST
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