‘Dangerous’ Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes to await trial in jail
Accused sedition conspiracist Stewart Rhodes will remain incarcerated after playing what prosecutor called a “particularly dangerous role” in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the nation’s democratic process.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Friday that the “extremely sophisticated” leader of militant group The Oath Keepers posed too great a risk to be set free as he awaits trial in July, CNN reports. Rhodes, a Yale Law graduate and Army veteran, is one of 11 Oath Keepers waiting to stand trial in relation to events surrounding the insurrection.
Prosecutors allege that a freshly revealed encrypted electronic message calling for “the final nail in the coffin of our republic” was sent by the 56-year-old Texas man largely recognizable by the patch over his left eye.
He also allegedly messaged supporters to “Be prepared for a major letdown on the 6th to the 8th, and be ready to do it ourselves,” if former President Trump didn’t enact the Insurrection Act by which U.S. troops could be mobilized to help him stay in power following the the Capitol siege.
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Rhodes is accused of telling his supporters that Trump had to understand “that we will have no choice” than to take matters into their own hands if President Biden took office.
Stewart and thousands of other Trump supporters were in Washington on Jan. 6 to overturn the certification of that election, which the 45th president falsely claimed had been stolen from him.
The bloody Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol was allegedly part of a larger plan for the Oath Keepers, who also has weapons and ammunition stashed in an Arlington, Va., Comfort Inn hotel and a “quick reaction force” ready to ferry them into Washington, D.C. Prosecutors contend the Oath Keepers were prepared for a longer battle that could have lasted through Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, Politico reported.
Rhodes was arrested in January. He pleaded not guilty. His lawyers contend there’s a lack of evidence connecting Rhodes to a Jan. 6 conspiracy, claim he’s not a flight risk and say he poses no danger to the public.
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His estranged wife said in late January that she was pleased to learn Rhodes was being kept behind bars. According to Tasha Adams, when they were together, the “complete sociopath” had begun work on a series of “elaborate escape tunnels” in their yard that led to a wooded area where he stored unregistered getaway cars.
Trump has toyed with pardoning MAGA supporters that have been charges in the attack on the Capitol.
“If it requires pardons, we will give them pardons, because they are being treated so unfairly,” the ex-president told supporters at a Jan. 29 rally near Houston, Texas.
More than 770 people have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 offensive in D.C.
