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Capitol riots: Who are the 4 Oath Keepers convicted of seditious conspiracy in Jan 6 attack?

Roberto Minuta, Joseph Hackett, David Moerschel, and Edward Vallejo were found guilty on counts of destruction of government property and tampering with evidence
UPDATED JAN 24, 2023
Joseph Hackett, Roberto Minuta, David Moerschel, and Edward Vallejo tried to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power from then-President Donald Trump to Joe Biden (Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Arizona's Family, Department of Justice)
Joseph Hackett, Roberto Minuta, David Moerschel, and Edward Vallejo tried to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power from then-President Donald Trump to Joe Biden (Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Arizona's Family, Department of Justice)

WASHINGTON, DC: A Washington, DC, jury has finally delivered their judgment and found four members of the far-right Oath Keepers group guilty of seditious conspiracy. The decision came on Monday, January 23, after three days long deliberation, ultimately sending accused Roberto Minuta, David Moerschel, Joseph Hackett, and, Edward Vallejo behind bars for their involvement in the Capitol Hill attack. A hundred of thousands of people stormed into Capitol Hill, on January 6, 2021, and tried to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power from then-President Donald Trump to Joe Biden by Congress from certifying the 2020 Electoral College votes.

These four convicts will be now prosecuted for conspiring with other members of the militia group, which includes militia group founder Stewart Rhodes. Out of four convicts, three were accused of being in a militia-type stack that forced their way into the Capitol, whereas Edward Vallejo was booked for assisting in storing weapons and equipment in a Virginia hotel. The jury delivered the verdict, comprising of convictions on other charges such as ‘conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy to Roberto Minuta, Joseph Hackett, David Moerschel obstruct law enforcement.’ The jury found them guilty on counts of destruction of government property and tampering with evidence.

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Who is Stewart Rhodes? Oath Keepers founder calls Joe Biden 'illegitimate', says 365M 'patriots ready to rise up'

Stewart Rhodes founded the Oath Keepers in 2009 (Twitter)
Stewart Rhodes founded the Oath Keepers in 2009 (Twitter)

Earlier, prosecutors managed to establish a sedition charge against Rhodes and other codefendants, Kelly Meggs. Three others -- Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell -- ended up being acquitted. US District Judge Amit Mehta presided over the trial, reports MEAWW. Rhodes is a Yale Law School alum, a former Army paratrooper, and disbarred attorney. During an eight-week trial, prosecutors accused him of plotting to use force in an attempt to block Congress from certifying President-elect Joe Biden's election victory over Trump. The 57-year-old now faces up to 20 years in prison, according to CBS News.

While hundreds have gone to trial in the Capitol Hill attack, last week three serving marines were arrested after an FBI investigation. The enlisted Marines, Cpl. Micah Coomer, Sgts Joshua Abate, and Dodge Dale Hellonen were charged this week amid the ongoing crackdown on current or former members of the military associated with the riot. In an interview regarding security clearance in June, one of the marines confessed to walking through the Capitol with two ‘buddies,’ as per investigation. “[We] walked around and tried not to get hit with tear gas."

At present, for the same charge, four members of the far-right Proud Boys group are facing trial.

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