Involved in storming the Capitol
Oath Keepers founder sentenced to long prison term
05/25/2023, 8:48 p.m
Stewart Rhodes was already convicted last year – now the sentence has been determined. The founder of a right-wing extremist militia has been in prison for almost two decades. The prosecutor said he acted “like a general on the battlefield” during the storming of the Capitol.
The founder of the far-right US militia Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The sentence against the 57-year-old for “seditious conspiracy” was announced by a federal judge in the capital Washington. It is the longest prison sentence to date in connection with the violent attack on the US Congress two months after the November 2020 presidential election. Former paratrooper and later lawyer Rhodes described himself at the trial as a “political prisoner”.
Prosecutors had asked for 25 years in prison for Rhodes. Among other things, she had requested that “terrorist behavior” be added as an aggravating factor. Judge Amit Mehta accepted the request, but his sentence remained below the prosecutor’s request. Rhodes was found guilty of “seditious conspiracy” in November. The offense is aimed, among other things, at attempts to overthrow the US government and is rarely used in the US.
Weapons and combat gear stored in hotel
Prosecutors had accused the five accused Oath Keepers in the trial of planning an “armed rebellion” against the US government. Accordingly, the extremists wanted to prevent the transfer of power from President Donald Trump to his successor Joe Biden. According to the indictment, ex-soldier Rhodes, known for his black eye patch, and the other accused Oath Keepers had bought weapons and combat gear and stored them in a hotel near the capital. Rhodes acted “like a general on the battlefield” during the storming of the Capitol, prosecutor Jeffrey Nestler said during the trial last fall.
Rhodes has denied planning an attack on the Capitol. According to him, he and his militia only wanted to ensure security at a Trump rally in Washington on the day in question.
Thousands of supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the House of Parliament on January 6, 2021. Their goal was to prevent Congress from confirming the election victory of incumbent President Biden. Four rioters died, as did a police officer a little later. Around 140 police officers were injured, and several have since committed suicide.
Rhodes was on the Capitol grounds but did not enter the actual building. He founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. They accuse the Washington government of violating their rights. The group focuses on recruiting police officers, soldiers and paramedics. They often appear heavily armed at demonstrations and political events.