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Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes has been found guilty of inciting conspiracy for orchestrating a violent plot to unseat Democrat Joe Biden from winning the presidential election.
The decision marks a major victory for the Justice Department in its massive prosecution of the January 6 uprising.
A Washington jury found Rhodes guilty of sedition after three days of deliberation in a nearly two-month trial that showcased the far-right extremist group’s efforts to keep Republican Donald Trump in the White House at all costs .
Prosecutors used dozens of encrypted messages, audio recordings and surveillance video to prove that Rhodes began preparing for an armed rebellion shortly after the 2020 election to prevent a transfer of presidential power.
In more than seven weeks of testimony, jurors heard how Rhodes rallied his followers to Trump’s defense, discussed the prospect of a “bloody” civil war and warned that oath keepers may have to “revolt” to defend Trump. Beat Biden if Trump doesn’t act.
Rhodes and a co-defendant also convicted of sedition conspiracy were the first in nearly three decades to be convicted at trial on the rarely used Civil War-era charge.
The trial is the biggest test yet for the Justice Department to hold those responsible for attacks that have shaken the foundations of American democracy.
Sedition conspiracy carries up to 20 years in prison.
Along with Rhodes of Granbury, Texas, on trial are Kelly Meggs, head of the Florida chapter of Vow Keepers; and Kenneth Harrelson, another Florida Vow Keeper ; Thomas Caldwell, a retired naval intelligence officer from Virginia; and Jessica Watkins, who led the Ohio militia.
Defense attorneys accused prosecutors of twisting their client’s words and insisted that the oath-keepers came to Washington only to provide security for figures such as longtime Trump ally Roger Stone.
The defense mostly focused on trying to show that Rhodes’ rhetoric was a bluff and that the Oathkeepers had no plans to attack the Capitol before Jan. 6.
Rhodes testified that he had no idea his followers would join the mob and storm the Capitol, saying he was dismayed after he found out some did.
Rhodes said they acted “stupidly” and went beyond the scope of their mission for the day.
Prosecutors said the Oathkeepers saw an opportunity to advance their plot to prevent the transfer of power and acted quickly when the mob began storming the Capitol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy told jurors in her closing arguments that the attack on the Capitol was a “means to an end” for Oathkeepers.
Jurors heard how Rhodes spent thousands of dollars on AR platform rifles, magazines, mounts, sights and other equipment on his way to Washington before the riots.
They watched surveillance footage of the Virginia Hotel, where some oath keepers stashed weapons for “rapid reaction forces” ready to move them quickly into the city if needed, prosecutors said. These weapons were never deployed.
On Jan. 6, cameras captured oathkeepers in combat gear pushing their way through crowds into the Capitol.
A prosecutor said Rhodes stayed outside like “a general reviewing his troops on the battlefield.” Following the riot, Rhodes and other vow-keepers went to an Olive Garden restaurant to celebrate, according to prosecutors.
The trial revealed new details of Rhodes’ efforts to pressure Trump to stay in the White House in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6.
Shortly after the election, in a group chat in which Mr. Stone was dubbed “FOS,” or “Friends of Stone,” Rhodes wrote, “So will you step up and push Trump to finally take decisive action?”
Three other oathkeepers have previously pleaded guilty to inciting conspiracy. However, the last time the Justice Department delivered such a conviction at trial was in 1995 when it indicted Islamist militants who plotted to blow up New York City landmarks.
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