The Most Severe Charges Yet
Eleven Oath Keepers have been arrested on sedition charges for their involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol Riots.
More than 700 rioters have been charged over several months of the Jan. 6 investigation. However, the "legal weight and political overtones" carried by these seditious conspiracy charges against Stewart Rhodes, leader and founder of the Oath Keepers, and 10 other members have been the most severe charges yet--carrying a maximum of 20 years in prison. According to the indictment, the Oath Keepers charged into the Capitol, under Rhodes' command, in search of Nancy Pelosi. Others were stationed in a nearby hotel, armed and ready to storm into the Capitol if needed.
Stewart Rhodes, a former Army paratrooper who went on to earn a law degree at Yale, had been under investigation for his role in the Capitol riot since at least last spring. Credit: Susan Walsh/Associated Press
By Alan Feuer and Adam Goldman
Since the creation of the Oath Keepers in 2009, Rhodes has been a prominent figure in far-right circles, championing an anti-government platform. After Trump took office, the Oath Keepers changed course and embraced nationalism as well as the conspiracy of a deep state. Early last January, Rhodes spent "thousands of dollars on military-grade firearms, ammunition and other tactical gear."
Rep. Adam Schiff explains possible routes the House can take to get members like Reps. Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, and Scott Perry to cooperate and testify to the Committee with the House's ability to "police its own." Rep. Schiff also explains the House's subpoenas on the big tech companies like Google, Meta, Reddit, and Twitter.