Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 attack
WASHINGTON (AP) — Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was sentenced Thursday after a landmark verdict convicting him of spearheading a weekslong plot to keep former President Donald Trump in power. He’s the first of the Jan. 6 defendants convicted of seditious conspiracy to receive his punishment. Rhodes did not express remorse or appeal for leniency, but instead claimed to be a “political prisoner." Another Oath Keeper convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside Rhodes — Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs — was sentenced later Thursday to 12 years behind bars.
kAms625=:?6 =@@>:?8[ q:56? 2?5 |4r2CE9J ?2CC@H :? @? 3F586E 562= E@ =:7E 563E 46:=:?8k^Am
kAm(p$wx}v%~} Wp!X — s2JD 7C@> 2 5625=:?6[ !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? 2?5 w@FD6 $A62<6C z6G:? |4r2CE9J 2C6 ?2CC@H:?8 :? @? 2 EH@\J62C 3F586E 562= E92E 4@F=5 F?=@4< 2 G@E6 7@C =:7E:?8 E96 ?2E:@?’D 563E 46:=:?8] %96J 2C6 C24:?8 7@C 28C66>6?E E9:D H66<6?5] pD D@@? 2D yF?6 `[ %C62DFCJ D2JD :E 4@F=5 CF? D9@CE @7 7F?5D E@ A2J E96 3:==D] p 7656C2= 5672F=E @? E96 ?2E:@?VD 563E H@F=5 D6?5 E96 64@?@>J :?E@ 492@D] %96 3F586E 7=@H :D?’E E96 @?=J 92?8\FA] ~?6 E9@C?J :DDF6 :D 2 #6AF3=:42? 56>2?5 @AA@D65 3J s6>@4C2ED 7@C DE:776C H@C< C6BF:C6>6?ED @? A6@A=6 H9@ C646:G6 8@G6C?>6?E 2:5] p?J 4@>AC@>:D6 ?665D DFAA@CE 7C@> 3@E9 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 #6AF3=:42?D E@ A2DD :? r@?8C6DD]k^Am
kAm%6I2D =2H>2<6CD :DDF6 a_ 2CE:4=6D @7 :>A6249>6?E 282:?DE DE2E6 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= z6? !2IE@?k^Am
kAmp&$%x}[ %6I2D Wp!X — %6I2D =2H>2<6CD 92G6 :DDF65 a_ 2CE:4=6D @7 :>A6249>6?E 282:?DE DE2E6 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= z6? !2IE@?[ C2?8:?8 7C@> 3C:36CJ E@ 23FD6 @7 AF3=:4 ECFDE 2D DE2E6 #6AF3=:42?D DFC865 E@H2C5 2 DH:7E 2?5 DF556? G@E6 E92E 4@F=5 C6>@G6 9:> 7C@> @77:46] %96 492C86D H6C6 C6=62D65 %9FCD52J ?:89E[ 9@FCD 27E6C 2 #6AF3=:42?\=65 w@FD6 :?G6DE:82E:G6 4@>>:EE66 C64@>>6?565 :>A6249:?8 E96 DE2E6’D E@A =2HJ6C] %96 w@FD6 4@F=5 G@E6 @? E96 C64@>>6?52E:@? 2D D@@? 2D uC:52J] x7 :E :>A62496D !2IE@?[ 96 H@F=5 36 7@C465 E@ =62G6 @77:46 :>>65:2E6=J]k^Am
kAmx?5:2?2 5@4E@C C6AC:>2?565 7@C E2=<:?8 AF3=:4=J 23@FE ~9:@ `_\J62C\@=5VD 23@CE:@?k^Am
kAmx}sxp}p!~{x$ Wp!X — p? x?5:2?2 3@2C5 92D 564:565 E@ C6AC:>2?5 2? x?5:2?2A@=:D 5@4E@C 27E6C 7:?5:?8 E92E D96 G:@=2E65 A2E:6?E AC:G24J =2HD 3J E2=<:?8 AF3=:4=J 23@FE AC@G:5:?8 2? 23@CE:@? E@ 2 `_\J62C\@=5 C2A6 G:4E:> 7C@> ?6:893@C:?8 ~9:@] %96 DE2E6 |65:42= {:46?D:?8 q@2C5 G@E65 E92E sC] r2:E=:? q6C?2C5 5:5?’E 23:56 3J AC:G24J =2HD 3J E6==:?8 2 ?6HDA2A6C C6A@CE6C 23@FE E96 8:C=’D EC62E>6?E :? 2 42D6 E92E 3642>6 2 A@=:E:42= 7=2D9A@:?E :? E96 ?2E:@?2= 23@CE:@? 5632E6 52JD 27E6C E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE @G6CEFC?65 #@6 G] (256 =2DE DF>>6C] q@2C5 >6>36CD 49@D6 E@ 7:?6 q6C?2C5 Sb[___ 7@C E96 G:@=2E:@?D[ EFC?:?8 5@H? 2 C6BF6DE 7C@> E96 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=’D @77:46 E@ DFDA6?5 q6C?2C5’D =:46?D6]k^Am
kAmq@5J\42> 7@@E286 D9@HD :?5:4E65 6I\A@=:46 @77:46CD =2F89:?8 2E >2? H9@ 5:65 :? E96:C 4FDE@5Jk^Am
kAmyprz$~}[ |:DD] Wp!X — q@5J\42>6C2 7@@E286 D9@HD 7@C>6C A@=:46 @77:46CD H9@ H6C6 :?5:4E65 3J 2 |:DD:DD:AA: 8C2?5 ;FCJ =2F89:?8 23@FE 2 >2? H9@ 5:65 :? E96:C 4FDE@5J] %96 7@@E286 2=D@ D9@HD @?6 @7 E96> BF6DE:@?:?8 H96E96C E@ :>>65:2E6=J 42== 2? 2>3F=2?46 7@C E96 >2?] ~77:4:2=D :? E96 DE2E6 42A:E2= @7 y24<D@? 2??@F?465 (65?6D52J E92E 2 8C2?5 ;FCJ 925 :?5:4E65 EH@ 7@C>6C A@=:46 @77:46CD @? >FC56C 492C86D 2?5 2?@E96C 6I\@77:46C @? 2 >2?D=2F89E6C 492C86 :? E96 562E9 @7 z6:E9 |FCC:6=] |FCC:6= :D q=24< 2?5 :D D66? @? G:56@ 36:?8 A:??65 5@H? 2?5 C6A62E65=J D9@4<65 H:E9 DEF? 8F?D 5FC:?8 2 }6H *62C’D tG6 2CC6DE] %96 4:EJ C6=62D65 9@FCD @7 3@5J\42>6C2 7@@E286 56E2:=:?8 E96 6?4@F?E6C]k^Am
kAm!6?E28@? D2JD 2==:6D H:== F?:E6 E@ EC2:? &<C2:?:2?D @? u\`eD[ 3FE H2C?D ;6ED 2C6?VE V>28:4 H62A@?DVk^Am
kAm(p$wx}v%~} Wp!X — s676?D6 $64C6E2CJ {=@J5 pFDE:? D2JD E92E tFC@A62? 2==:6D 2C6 56G6=@A:?8 2 4@@C5:?2E65 AC@8C2> E@ EC2:? &<C2:?:2? 7@C46D @? E96 u\`e 7:89E6C ;6E] qFE !6?E28@? =6256CD H2C? E92E :E H:== 36 2 4@DE=J 2?5 4@>A=6I E2D< 2?5 H@?’E 36 2 >28:4 D@=FE:@? E@ E96 H2C] pFDE:? D2JD E96 2==:6D C64@8?:K6 E92E :? 255:E:@? E@ EC2:?:?8[ &<C2:?6 H:== 2=D@ ?665 E@ 36 23=6 E@ DFDE2:? 2?5 >2:?E2:? E96 2:C4C27E 2?5 92G6 6?@F89 >F?:E:@?D] p?5 96 D2JD E92E 2:C 5676?D6 DJDE6>D 2C6 DE:== E96 H62A@?D E92E &<C2:?6 ?665D >@DE :? E96 3C@256C 677@CE E@ 4@?EC@= E96 2:CDA246]k^Am
kAmu@C5 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6 @H?6CD E@ 86E 2446DD E@ %6D=2 $FA6C492C86C ?6EH@C< DE2CE:?8 ?6IE DAC:?8k^Am
kAmst%#~x% Wp!X — p== @7 u@C5‘D 4FCC6?E 2?5 7FEFC6 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6D H:== 92G6 2446DD E@ 23@FE `a[___ %6D=2 $FA6C492C86C DE2E:@?D :? E96 &]$] 2?5 r2?252 DE2CE:?8 ?6IE DAC:?8] u@C5 rt~ y:> u2C=6J 2?5 %6D=2 rt~ t=@? |FD< 2??@F?465 E96 28C66>6?E %9FCD52J 5FC:?8 2 “%H:EE6C $A246D” 2F5:@ 492E] u2C=6J D2:5 E96 28C66>6?E :D 2 9F86 >@G6 7@C E96 2FE@ :?5FDECJ 2?5 2== 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6 4FDE@>6CD] |FD< D2:5 96 5:5?’E H2?E %6D=2’D ?6EH@C< E@ 36 2 “H2==65 82C56?]Q w6 D2:5 96 H2?ED E@ FD6 :E E@ DFAA@CE DFDE2:?23=6 EC2?DA@CE2E:@?] %96 6G6?E 42>6 @77 H:E9@FE E96 6>32CC2DD:?8 E649?:42= 8=:E496D E92E A=28F65 u=@C:52 v@G] #@? s6$2?E:D’ 2??@F?46>6?E (65?6D52J E92E 96 H2D CF??:?8 7@C AC6D:56?E]k^Am
kAm&} A6246<66A:?8 @? fdE9 2??:G6CD2CJi DF446DD6D[ 72:=FC6D 2?5 492==6?86D 29625 :? 2 5:G:565 H@C=5k^Am
kAm&}x%ts }p%x~}$ Wp!X — ~? E96 fdE9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 &]}] A6246<66A:?8[ E96 &?:E65 }2E:@?D 49:67 D2JD A6246<66A6CD 2C6 :?4C62D:?8=J H@C<:?8 :? A=246D H96C6 E96C6 :D ?@ A6246] p?5 $64C6E2CJ\v6?6C2= p?E@?:@ vFE6CC6D AC2:D65 E96 >@C6 E92? c[a__ H9@ 92G6 8:G6? E96:C =:G6D E@ E96 42FD6 @7 A6246 D:?46 E96 &]}] 2FE9@C:K65 :ED 7:CDE >:=:E2CJ 56A=@J>6?E :? `hcg] %9FCD52J H2D 2 52J E@ =@@< 324< 2E E96 DF446DD6D @7 A6246<66A:?8 7C@> {:36C:2 E@ r2>3@5:2 2?5 :ED >2;@C 72:=FC6D :? 7@C>6C *F8@D=2G:2 2?5 #H2?52[ 3FE 2=D@ E@ E96 492==6?86D 29625] %96D6 :?4=F56 562=:?8 H:E9 >@C6 G:@=6?E 6?G:C@?>6?ED[ 72<6 ?6HD 42>A2:8?D[ 2?5 2 5:G:565 H@C=5 E92E :D AC6G6?E:?8 A6246<66A:?8’D F=E:>2E6 8@2= @7 DF446DD7F==J C6DE@C:?8 DE23=6 8@G6C?>6?ED]k^Am
kAmV#@>6@ U2>Aj yF=:6EV DE2CDV =2HDF:E @G6C `heg 7:=>VD E66? ?F56 D46?6 E@DD65k^Am
kAmp {@D p?86=6D r@F?EJ ;F586 D2JD D96 H:== 5:D>:DD 2 =2HDF:E E92E E96 DE2CD @7 E96 `heg 7:=> “#@>6@ 2?5 yF=:6E” 7:=65 @G6C 2 ?F56 D46?6 D9@E H96? E96J H6C6 :? E96:C >:5\E66?D] p4E@CD ~=:G:2 wFDD6J 2?5 {6@?2C5 (9:E:?8[ H9@ 2C6 3@E9 fa[ 2==6865 E92E E96J H6C6 D6IF2==J 23FD65 H96? 5:C64E@C uC2?4@ +677:C6==: D9@E E96 D46?6] qFE E96 ;F586 8C2?E65 2 C6BF6DE 7C@> !2C2>@F?E !:4EFC6D E@ 5:D>:DD E96 =2HDF:E] $96 D2:5 =2HD 282:?DE 49:=5 A@C?@8C2A9J 5@ ?@E 2AA=J E@ E96 2H2C5\H:??:?8 7:=>[ 2?5 E92E E96 DF:E H2D 7:=65 E@@ =2E6] %96 24E@CDV 2EE@C?6J 56?@F?465 E96 564:D:@? 2?5 D2:5 E96JV== 7:=6 2 D:>:=2C DF:E :? 7656C2= 4@FCE]k^Am
kAmr6=E:4D E9C:G6 @? bD[ 362E w62E ``_\hf :? v2>6 d E@ 6IE6?5 t2DE 7:?2=Dk^Am
kAmq~$%~} Wp!X — s6CC:4< (9:E6 925 ac A@:?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 D:I b\A@:?E6CD[ 96=A:?8 =625 E96 492C86 2D E96 q@DE@? r6=E:4D 5@>:?2E65 E96 |:2>: w62E ``_\hf :? v2>6 d @? E@ 6IE6?5 E96 t2DE6C? r@?76C6?46 7:?2=D] |2C4FD $>2CE 925 ab A@:?ED 2?5 7:G6 DE62=D] y2JD@? %2EF> 2?5 y2J=6? qC@H? 7:?:D965 H:E9 a` A@:?ED 2A:646 2D E96 r6=E:4D 4=2:>65 E96:C D64@?5 DEC2:89E H:? 2?5 EC:>>65 |:2>:’D D6C:6D =625 E@ b\a] xE <66AD 2=:G6 q@DE@?’D 9@A6D @7 364@>:?8 E96 7:CDE E62> :? }qp 9:DE@CJ E@ @G6C4@>6 2 b\_ 567:4:E :? 2 36DE\@7\D6G6? D6C:6D] v2>6 e :D $2EFC52J :? |:2>:] sF?42? #@3:?D@? =65 E96 w62E H:E9 `g A@:?ED]k^Am
