BREAKING | Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes has been convicted of seditious conspiracy for planning an armed rebellion in an attempt to stop the electoral certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory over Donald Trump.
Rhodes, along with one other member of the far-right militia, was found guilty on Tuesday of the rare Civil War-era charge in the most significant trial yet over the Jan. 6 insurrection. In addition to the seditious conspiracy charge, he and several other defendants faced charges including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging their duties.
Now, the founder of the far-right militia faces up to 20 years behind bars. Kelly Meggs, a leader of the Florida Oath Keepers chapter, was also found guilty of seditious conspiracy. Their co-defendants—Thomas Caldwell, a retired Navy intelligence officer; member Kenneth Harrelson; and Jessica Watkins, who led an Ohio militia group—were found not guilty of the most serious charge. Every defendant was convicted of obstruction.
, 2020, meeting revealed in court. “But let’s just do it smart, and let’s do it while President Trump is still commander in chief.” Defense attorney Philip Linder said that the Oath Keepers’ main intent on Jan. 6 was simply to be a “peacekeeping force” and to provide security for several speakers throughout the week.
“I think it was stupid to go into the Capitol. One, because it wasn’t our mission,” Rhodes told jurors. “And two, it opened the door for our political enemies to persecute us. And that’s what happened, and here we are.”
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