Oath Keepers Trial: Prosecutor Alleges Far-Right Militia âConcocted Armed Rebellionâ To âShatterâ American Democracy
Madeline Halpert Forbes Staff
Oct 3, 2022,12:22pm EDT
A trial began Monday for the leaders of the anti-government militia Oath Keepers for their involvement in the January 6 riots, with prosecutors alleging the group intentionally âconcocted a plan for an armed rebellion to shatter a bedrock of American democracyâ in one of the highest-profile Capitol insurrection cases to date.
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, speaks during a rally outside the White House in ⌠[+]COPYRIGHT 2017 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
KEY FACTS
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler said during an opening statement Monday that the goal of the defendantsâincluding Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four associatesâwas to âstop by whatever means necessary the lawful transfer of presidential power,â including by âtaking up armsâ against the government.
The group allegedly plotted to prevent Congress from certifying President Joe Bidenâs win âin plain sight,â while also using encrypted messaging apps like Signal to plot in private, Nestler argued.
Rhodesâwho prosecutors say along with other Oath Keepers members stockpiled weapons in a hotel near the capitol in case they needed to bring them to the rallyâtold his followers in text messages there would be âtorches and pitchforksâ if Congress doesnât âdo the right thing,â prosecutors alleged Monday.
Rhodes, a Yale law graduate who founded the Oath Keepers in 2019, and co-defendants Kelly Meggs, Thomas Caldwell, Jessica Watkins and Kenneth Harrelson, face several charges for their role in the riot, including seditious conspiracy, the most severe charge handed to a January 6 defendant, and could face up to 20 years in prison for the sedition charges.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The trial is expected to last several weeks. After prosecutors present their opening statements Monday, the defendantsâ attorneys are set to follow.
SURPRISING FACT
The last time the Justice Department sought to prosecute someone on charges of seditious conspiracy was nearly 30 years ago, when an Egyptian cleric and nine followers were convicted in 1995 for plotting to bomb New York City landmarks. The seditious conspiracy charge was passed after the Civil War to arrest Southerners continuing to battle the government, according to the Associated Press.
BIG NUMBER
At least 919. Thatâs how many people have been charged in the Capitol insurrection to date, according to a tracker maintained by Insider.
KEY BACKGROUND
The Justice Department charged Rhodes and 10 others with seditious conspiracy in January. Prosecutors have alleged dozens of Oath Keepers members spent weeks gathering weapons and training armed teams around the country to stop Bidenâs certification as president. Several members are also accused of wearing helmets and battle gear and breaching the Capitol building on January 6. Oath Keepers warned Biden taking office could lead to violence and cause a âbloody and desperate fightâ Rhodes said, according to prosecutors. The militia groupâs leaders, meanwhile, have argued they never planned to participate in any attack and were at the Capitol to defend themselves against violence from antifa activists, according to the AP. They have also argued they were preparing for former President Donald Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act, which they argue would allow them to act as a government-authorized militia. Members of several other right-wing organizations, including the Proud Boys and the Three Percenters, have also been charged for involvement in the riots.
TANGENT
Three other Oath Keepers involved in the caseâJoshua James, Brian Ulrich and William Todd Wilsonâhave pleaded guilty to the sedition charges, while remaining members are set to go on trial in November.
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