Stewart Rhodes, founder of Oath Keepers. (File)
Stewart Rhodes, the founder of Oath Keepers in America, has been sentenced to 18 years of rigorous imprisonment on Thursday in the case of treason. Rhodes was accused of conspiring to attack the US Capitol against Joe Biden after the 2020 presidential election. He is the first person accused in the January 6, 2021 attack, to be sentenced for sedition and conspiracy. Please tell that his sentence is the longest sentence given so far in all the cases of capital riots.
However, the prosecutors had demanded the court to impose a sentence of 25 years in prison. Meanwhile, Kelly Meigs, the leader of the Florida chapter of the militia, was jailed for 12 years. Rhodes and Meigs were also convicted of obstructing official proceedings and tampering with documents.
During a hearing on Thursday, Rhodes showed little remorse. He claimed that he was a political prisoner. At the same time he insisted that the people in power were destroying our country, we were standing against them. Judge Amit Mehta dismissed those claims and expressed concern about Rhodes’ violent rhetoric, including threats to execute former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Judge Mehta said that Mr. Rhodes, I have never said about anyone, whom I have sentenced, that you are a threat and a threat to the fabric of the republic and democracy of this country. With elections round the corner once again, we are all waiting with bated breath to see if there will be another January 6?
According to media reports, Rhodes’ sentence is the longest sentence given so far for riots. In fact, thousands of supporters of Donald Trump stormed the US legislature after objecting to the results of the 2020 presidential election. In this case, prosecutors had sought 25 years in prison for Rhodes and 21 years for Meigs. At the same time, the defense lawyers appealed for a sentence of less than three years each.
