On Tuesday, a federal jury in Washington found Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs, another member of the far-right organization, guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Jurors reached their decision on the third day of deliberations, following a trial in federal court in Washington that spanned weeks.
Three other members of the group who were on trial alongside Rhodes and Meggs — Jessica Watkins, Kenneth Harrelson and Thomas Caldwell — were found not guilty on the seditious conspiracy charge. All five defendants were found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting for their actions on Jan. 6.
The three defendants who physically went inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 — Meggs, Harrelson, and Watkins — were found guilty of conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging their official duties. Rhodes and Caldwell were on Capitol grounds that day but did not go inside the building.
Rhodes’ lawyer said Tuesday that he plans to appeal that conviction; the seditious conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Editorial credit: Gallagher Photography / Shutterstock.com