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Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes found GUILTY of seditious conspiracy in Capitol riots, Internet awaits sentencing

The verdicts against Rhodes and 4 co-defendants -- Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell -- came after 3 days of deliberations

WASHINGTON, DC: Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes has been found guilty of seditious conspiracy in the January 6 Capitol attack. The verdicts against Rhodes and four co-defendants came after three days of deliberations. Hundreds of people have been convicted in the attack, which turned out to be a failed bid to overturn then-President Donald Trump's 2020 election loss.

Kelly Meggs, a co-defendant, was also found guilty of seditious conspiracy on Tuesday, November 29. Three others -- Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell -- ended up being acquitted. US District Judge Amit Mehta presided over the trial.

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Rhodes is a Yale Law School-educated 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 Joe Biden's election victory over Trump. He now faces up to 20 years in prison.

Rhodes is seen wearing an eye patch at all times after he accidentally shot himself in the face with his own gun. He founded a militia group called Oath Keepers in 2009, whose members include current and retired US military personnel, law enforcement officers, and first responders. 

Rhodes and two of his co-defendants testified in their own defense and denied the allegations. Watkins, however, admitted to impeding police officers protecting the Capitol. Rhodes claimed he did not plan to storm the Capitol and learned that some of his fellow Oath Keepers had breached the building only after the riot was over. 

During cross-examination, prosecutors showed several pages of Rhodes' inflammatory text messages, videos, photos, and audio recordings, including those in which he lamented about not bringing rifles to Washington on January 6. He also said he could have hanged US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi from a lamppost.

The Internet is now waiting for the sentencing, with one user saying, "He better be put away for a long time." One user wrote, "The conviction is good but the schadenfreude is in the sentencing." "Justice has been served. Hope he serves the full 20 years," one user said.

"Great! I’m ready for Trump to be held accountable now," one user wrote, while another said, "Our country is safer with him behind bars." "I had to force myself to stop clapping. Yes! Major relief!" one user wrote. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.