Conviction: The leader of the far-right “Oath Keepers” militia, Stewart Rhodes, has been convicted nearly two years after storming the US Capitol. After several days of deliberation on Tuesday (local time) in the US capital of Washington, a jury found him guilty of “seditional conspiracy” – a crime rarely recognized in the country’s judicial history. Rhodes faces up to 20 years in prison.
Rhodes, along with co-defendants, was charged with conspiracy to use force to prevent the democratic transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election. Earlier this year, the US Justice Department filed charges against Rhodes and other participants in the attack on the Capitol. Among other things, they planned to travel to Washington in January 2021 and organized weapons, paramilitary equipment and training in combat techniques in advance.
Several of the defendants had entered the Capitol themselves, while others provided further coordination outside the congressional seat and partly outside the city.
Facts are usually difficult to prove
The crime of “incendiary conspiracy” is not easy to prove. To do this, the prosecution must prove that two or more people conspired to overthrow the US government or to use force to defy its authority. An example of this is the verdict passed in the 1990s against the mastermind behind the first attack on the World Trade Center in New York in 1993. The last time the Justice Department called on Christian fundamentalists of the ” Hutaree” group for “incendiary conspiracy” on . However, a judge dismissed the lawsuit for lack of evidence.
Sentence is announced
Rhodes claimed at trial that he had no plans to attack the U.S. Capitol. In addition to the 57-year-old from the US state of Texas, a leading member of the “Oath Keepers” from Florida has now also been found guilty of “seditious conspiracy”. Three other defendants were not convicted of the politically explosive facts – but for other crimes such as obstructing official proceedings. The sentence for Rhodes and the other convicts will be determined at a later date – a date for this has not yet been set.
“The Justice Department is determined to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the attack on our democracy on January 6, 2021,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said after the decision. However, Rhodes’ lawyers expressed disappointment at the verdict. “We believe we have presented a case which has shown through evidence and testimony that Mr Rhodes has not committed the crime of ‘seditional conspiracy’,” said one of his lawyers. “No evidence has been presented that there was a plan to attack the Capitol.”
Stormed the Capitol after Biden won the election
On January 6, 2021, supporters of President Donald Trump, who was voted out at the time, stormed the Houses of Parliament in Washington to prevent Democrat Joe Biden’s November 2020 election victory from being confirmed. Five people were killed in the riots. The attack on the heart of American democracy shocked the country. Trump had previously incited his supporters in a speech.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
