And the sentences continue to roll in! Another person has been sentenced for their role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. The latest to go down is Stewart Rhodes, the founder of a far-right, anti-government militia called Oath Keepers.
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Founder Of Anti-Government Militia Oath Keepers Gets Sentenced To 18 Years For Role In Capitol Riot
According to several news outlets, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes — who claimed that after the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6 that the rioters “should have brought rifles” — has been handed down 18 years in prison. This marks the longest sentence of any January 6 defendant to date.
Prior to storming the Capitol, the anti-government militia founder wrote a letter that in-part read, “They won’t fear us until we come with rifles in hand.” Then, after the attack, he was caught on a recording, which was played in court during his trial, claiming the above rifle mention. He wholly said that his only regret was that the rioters “should have brought rifles.”
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Rhodes, who called himself a “political prisoner” just before his sentencing in court, was previously convicted on seditious conspiracy, back in November 2022. He joined fellow Oath Keepers member and Capitol rioter Kelly Meggs.
During his time in court, he also spoke about a phone call he had with his supporters earlier this week, where he called for a “regime change,” and said that he hopes that former President Donald Trump will succeed in the 2024 presidential election.
Despite Rhodes and his lawyers arguing that he had been arrested and charged over politics, the judge defiantly disagreed, and claimed that Rhodes actions’ are actually what led to his criminal conviction.
Prior to ordering Rhodes to 18 years in prison, Judge Amit Mehta said, “[You were found guilty] not because of your beliefs, not because you supported the other guy, not because Joe Biden is president right now, [but because of your actions] at the Capitol.”
Mehta added, “You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes. You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country and to the republic and to the very fabric of this democracy.”
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Meanwhile, as mentioned Kelly Meggs was on trial as well. He was also sentenced by the same judge, Amit Mehta, on Thursday (May 25). Meggs received 12 years in federal prison, with Mehta explaining that he did not pose the same continued threat as her counterpart, Rhodes.
Meggs ended up getting emotional during her sentencing trial. He issued an apology to his family for the pain and suffering caused. He said, “I want to apologize to those that I’ve disappointed and let down. My deepest regret is the pain and suffering I’ve caused my family.”
It is reported that in court, Meggs’ sister, brother and son were in present. Meanwhile, his wife Connie, who also played a role in storming the Capitol, was not present, and had been separately convicted on multiple counts.
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