Judge reluctantly dismisses case against Oath Keepers militia group over Jan. 6 riot
A federal judge has dismissed the seditious conspiracy case against the Oath Keepers militia group following a decision by the Justice Department to drop the prosecution. The judge expressed strong disapproval of the move, citing the gravity of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Why it matters
Marks a significant shift in the legal aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and highlights ongoing tensions regarding the accountability of participants.
A federal judge has reluctantly dismissed the seditious conspiracy case against the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers group and several other key members, after the Justice Department backed away from the landmark prosecution.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta had sentenced Stewart Rhodes to 18 years in prison, calling him "an ongoing threat and peril to this country."
Juries convicted Rhodes and five other Oath Keepers of attempting to overthrow the government using force, contributing to the violence and the chaos as rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol six years ago. But the Trump Justice Department moved to wipe away those convictions, and eventually to drop the case altogether.
The dismissal of the Oath Keepers case marks one of the final codas to efforts to hold people accountable for the violent siege on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 by a mob of President Trump's supporters.
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