Stewart Rhodes, known for his black eye patch and his fiery diatribes, had remained outside the Capitol but, according to the indictment, had led his troops over the radio “like a general on the battlefield.”
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Posted on 5/25/2023 8:12 PM Updated on 5/25/2023 8:41 PM
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Far-right group Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes on Jan. 13, 2022. (COLLIN COUNTY/AFP)
It is the highest verdict to date in connection with the storming of the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump. One of the American far-right leaders, Stewart Rhodes, was sentenced Thursday, May 25, to 18 years in prison for “sedition”. The founder of the militia “Oath Keepers” took a defiant stance to the end: “I am a political prisoner”, “my only crime is to defy those who are destroying our country,” he said.
Federal Judge Amit Mehta put him in his place: “You are NOT a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes,” he said. “You are here because twelve jurors (…) found you guilty of sedition,” “one of the most serious crimes an American can commit.” This leader, who claims to have planned the use of force against the government, is sentenced to 20 years in prison. But prosecutors called for Stewart Rhodes to be sentenced to 25 years in prison, citing a tool that allows for increased penalties for acts of a “terrorist” nature.
“They pose an ongoing threat”
Without fully following them, Judge Mehta confirmed her analysis on this point. “Acts of intimidation or coercion aimed at incriminating the government” fall into this category, he said. He also attributed the severity of the sentence to the leadership of Stewart Rhodes, a 58-year-old former soldier, and his lack of remorse. “They pose an ongoing threat and danger to the country,” the judge affirmed.
On January 6, 2021, thousands of Donald Trump supporters had sowed chaos and violence in the seat of Congress when elected officials confirmed the victory of his rival Joe Biden in the presidential election. Stewart Rhodes, known for his black eye patch and his fiery diatribes, had remained outside the Capitol but, according to the indictment, had led his troops over the radio “like a general on the battlefield.”
The extensive investigations that followed led to the arrest of more than 1,000 people. Almost 300 were sentenced to prison terms, the maximum sentence so far being 14 years. But only 10 activists from far-right groups – six members of the “Oath Keepers” and four “Proud Boys” – were found guilty of “incitement to hatred” after three separate trials in Washington.
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