Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was found guilty of seditious conspiracy
Rhodes and his co-defendants are accused of a weekslong plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden
One co-defendant, Kelly Meggs, was also found guilty of seditious conspiracy
Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins and Thomas Caldwell - were acquitted of that charge. All were found guilty on obstructing official proceeding on Jan 6
"Fifty witnesses testified during the trial. Rhodes and two of his co-defendants testified in their own defense. They denied plotting any attack or seeking to block Congress from certifying the election results, though Watkins admitted to impeding police officers protecting the Capitol.
Rhodes told the jury he had no plan to storm the Capitol and did not learn that some of his fellow Oath Keepers had breached the building until after the riot had ended.
Prosecutors during cross-examination sought to paint Rhodes as a liar, showing him page after page of his inflammatory text messages, videos, photos and audio recordings.
These included Rhodes lamenting about not bringing rifles to Washington on Jan. 6 and saying he could have hanged U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat reviled by the right, from a lamppost.
Watkins, a transgender woman who fled the U.S. Army after being confronted with homophobic slurs, and Caldwell, a disabled U.S. Navy veteran, also chose to testify.
Watkins admitted to having 'criminal liability' for impeding police officers inside the Capitol and apologized. At the same time, Watkins denied having any plan to storm the building, describing being 'swept up' just as enthusiastic shoppers behave on 'Black Friday' when they rush into stores to purchase discount-price holiday gifts like TVs.
Caldwell, who like Rhodes did not enter the Capitol building and never formally joined the Oath Keepers, tried to downplay some of the inflammatory texts he sent in connection with the attack. Caldwell said some of the lines were adapted from or inspired by movies such as 'The Princess Bride' and cartoons such as Bugs Bunny.
Four other Oath Keepers members charged with seditious conspiracy are due to go to trial in December. Members of another right-wing group called the Proud Boys, including its former chairman Enrique Tarrio, also are due to head to trial on seditious conspiracy charges in December."
Sauce/more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11483491/Oath-Keepers-leader-Stewart-Rhodes-guilty-seditious-conspiracy-January-6-riot.html