Oath Keepers founder convicted of seditious conspiracy

A Washington, D.C., jury on Tuesday convicted Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right group Oath Keepers, of seditious conspiracy for his part in the riot and storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A jury found that Rhodes encouraged his followers to be prepared for a civil war and was in contact with them from outside while they stormed the Capitol. This is the first time someone has been convicted of seditious conspiracy since 1995. The charge calls for up to 20 years in prison. 

What’s happening to other Oath Keepers members? Four other Oath Keepers members were co-defendants to Rhodes in the trial, which lasted nearly two months. The jury also convicted Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs of seditious conspiracy and convicted all five defendants of obstruction of an official proceeding. Rhodes is among almost a dozen Oath Keepers charged with seditious conspiracy. The Justice Department has charged more than 700 people in its investigation into the Jan. 6 riot. Many of the higher-profile cases have yet to be adjudicated.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta and Esther Eaton’s report in The Stew about judicial and security updates one year after the riots.