Stewart Rhodes, leader of the far-right group Oath Keeperswas sentenced to 18 years in prison for “sedition” after his participation in the storming the capitol in 2021.
This is the highest sentence issued for the cases related to the most serious sentence pronounced so far related to the attack.
You represent a persistent threat and a danger to the country,” said federal judge Amit Mehta, justifying the severity of the sentence handed down against the founder of Oath Keepers.
Rhodes is one of more than 1,000 people charged in the attack that was intended to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden as the winner of the November 2020 election.
Seditious conspiracy is one of the most serious crimes an American can commit,” Mehta added.
The Oath Keepers participated with an arsenal of weapons in the assault on the Capitol carried out by supporters of then-President Trump.
You are smart, charismatic and convincing and that is frankly what makes you dangerous,” Mehta said.
EXTREMIST. Rhodes is a lawyer who worked with former Congressman Ron Paul. In 2009, he founded the far-right group Oath Keepers where he recruited active military, veterans and police officers.
In addition, he rejected Rhodes’s claim that he was a “political prisoner.”
The sentence did not reach the 25 years that the government sought, although
Mehta accepted the argument that the Oath Keepers’ plan to violently prevent Biden from becoming president equated to terrorism.
Rhodes’ attorneys noted that he never entered the Capitol building himself and did not urge others to do so.
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I think what happened on January 6 was deplorable, but Rhodes did not plan the uprising,” the defense insisted.
But Mehta dismissed that argument as mitigation.
Rhodes was unequivocally the leader of the group, the judge argued.
I think this country is incredibly divided. And this persecution is making it even worse,” said the defendant.
Just before sentencing, the defendant, wearing an eyepatch and dressed in an orange prisoner suit, defended his group and its actions in support of the Republican.
I am a political prisoner. My only crime is to oppose those who destroy our country,” said the leader of the group that has been active since 2009, defends the free carrying of weapons and is dedicated to recruiting veterans.
However, the justice of USA He considered that the possession of an arsenal on the outskirts of the city and the use of combat gear in his organized advance towards the Capitol showed a very high level of planning and preparation for violence.
Rhodes, 57, and Kelly Meggs, 53, a leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, were convicted on the rarely used charge of seditious conspiracy.
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