Oath Keepers chief Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for January 6 Capitol riot
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he founding father of a far-right group concerned within the rebel riot on the US capitol has been jailed for eighteen years.
Stewart Rhodes, founding father of the militant Oath Keepers, was jailed for seditious conspiracy within the longest sentence linked to the January 6, 2021 lethal assault which aimed to maintain Donald Trump within the White House.
US District Judge Amit Mehta delivered the sentence after a defiant Rhodes stood earlier than him in an orange jumpsuit and claimed he was a “political prisoner”.
“For decades, Mr Rhodes, it is clear you have wanted the democracy of this country to devolve into violence,” Judge Mehta told him.
“I dare say, Mr Rhodes, and I’ve never said this about anyone who I’ve sentenced: You, sir, present an ongoing threat and peril to this country, to the republic and the very fabric of our democracy.”
Rhodes, a former Army paratrooper turned Yale-educated lawyer, was convicted in November by a federal court jury in Washington.
His sentence represents the longest for any of the 1,000-plus people charged in connection with the Capitol attack.
Until now, the longest sentence was 14 years in prison given to a Pennsylvania man who attacked police during the rampage.
Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 25 years for Rhodes.
“Mr Rhodes led a conspiracy to use force and violence to intimidate and coerce members of our government into stopping the lawful transfer of power following a presidential election,” federal prosecutor Kathryn Rakoczy stated.
“As the court has just found – that is terrorism.”
Rhodes didn’t categorical regret for his crimes, selecting as a substitute to double down and blame the far left for ‘destroying’ the nation.
“I believe this country is incredibly divided. And this prosecution – not just of me, but of all J6ers [January 6-ers] – is making it even worse,” he stated.
“I think about each J6er a political prisoner and all of them are being grossly overcharged.
Rhodes, who wears a watch patch after by chance capturing himself within the face together with his personal gun, based the Oath Keepers in 2009.
Judge Mehta was additionally due later Thursday to condemn co-defendant Kelly Meggs, a former Florida Chapter chief additionally convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Prosecutors have requested Judge Mehta to condemn Meggs, the group’s former Florida chapter chief, to 21 years in jail.
Meggs admitted that he ought to have by no means entered the Capitol grounds, however he nonetheless denied that he deliberate his actions upfront.