From the BBC:
“Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for
Capitol riot”
The leader of a far-right militia has been sentenced to 18
years in prison for his role in the US Capitol riot. Stewart Rhodes, the
founder of the Oath Keepers, was convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy
and other crimes. Rhodes stayed outside the Capitol on 6 January 2021, but
co-ordinated with militia members who stormed the building. The sentence is the
longest yet given to a Capitol rioter. Prosecutors had asked for 25 years. Rhodes
was also convicted last year of obstruction of an official proceeding and
tampering with documents or proceedings in one of the highest-profile Capitol
riot trials. At a hearing on Thursday, the militia leader showed little
remorse, claiming he was a political prisoner and insisting the Oath Keepers
only intended to protect other protesters. Judge Amit Mehta rejected those
claims and expressed concern about Rhodes' violent rhetoric, including a threat
to hang former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The sentence given to Rhodes is
the longest handed out so far for the riot, where thousands of supporters of
Donald Trump who objected to the result of the 2020 presidential election
stormed the US legislature. Rhodes, a former US Army paratrooper and
Yale-educated lawyer, founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. Armed members of the
anti-government group showed up at a number of protests and standoffs, and
eventually became staunch supporters of Donald Trump. Dozens were present at
the riot.
What did the Oath Keepers do on January 6? Rhodes began a campaign to reject the
results of the election two days after the November 2020 vote, while ballots
were still being counted. He messaged supporters: "We aren't getting through
this without a civil war… Prepare your mind, body, spirit." Rhodes and
other Oath Keepers then spent thousands of dollars on weapons and equipment and
stashed them in a hotel room in nearby Virginia just prior to 6 January 2021.
During the riot itself, Rhodes stayed outside the building taking phone
calls and messages while other Oath Keepers stormed the building. Prosecutors
said he acted like a "battlefield general" during the melee. Defence
lawyers argued that the weapons stash was never used and that the militia was
on a purely defensive mission. They plan to appeal the convictions.
What is seditious conspiracy? Kelly Meggs, the leader of the
militia's Florida chapter, was scheduled to be sentenced later on Thursday. Meggs
was also convicted of seditious conspiracy, a little-used Civil War-era law
that carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence. It's distinct from the crime of
treason, which carries a high burden of proof outlined in the US Constitution,
and can lead to the death penalty. Three other Oath Keepers who went on
trial at the same time as Rhodes and Meggs were found not guilty of seditious
conspiracy but were convicted of lesser charges.
Judge Mehta ruled in favour of prosecutors who argued for a
stiffer sentence for Rhodes under a so-called "terrorism
enhancement". They argued that the Oath Keepers sought to use
"intimidation or coercion" against the US government. Four other Oath
Keepers were convicted of seditious conspiracy in January, and four members of
the far-right Proud Boys were convicted on the charge earlier this month. Most
of the Capitol rioters were not part of an organised group, however.
In total, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in
connection with the riot, and more than half have pled guilty to crimes
including assault, theft, weapons charges, trespassing and obstructing an
official proceeding. Around 80 have been found guilty following a trial,
according to the US Justice Department.
^ This Domestic Terrorist should have gotten a lot more jail
time. He and his minions tried to overthrow the Government of the United
States. ^
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