OnPolitics: Why Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes sentence matters

Prosecutors depicted him as the "orchestrator" and "architect" of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot during the trial.

Advertisement Read in browser Read in browser On Politics Thu May 25 2023 Hello there, OnPolitics readers. The founder of a right-wing militia group was sentenced to nearly two decades in prison today for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Let's get into it.   Oath Keepers' founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release following his conviction of seditious conspiracy in connection to the Capitol attack 🎬 Scene: Sporting an orange jumpsuit and his signature eyepatch under wire frame glasses, Rhodes brazenly addressed the court before the sentence was handed down, calling himself a "political prisoner" with "preordained guilt from Day One." Why it matters: Rhodes' sentence is the first one given to someone found guilty of seditious conspiracy – a rare, Civil War era charge linked to the Jan. 6 riot. The Justice Department sought a 25-year prison sentence for Rhodes and prosecutors depicted him as the "orchestrator" and "architect" of the attack on the Capitol during the trial. Keep reading: Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years in prison for Jan. 6 Capitol attack More Capitol Hill riot: Judge gives 54-month sentence to Jan. 6 rioter who put feet up on desk in Nancy Pelosi's office 📨 Stay in the know on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter Supreme Court significantly limits government power to curb water pollution The Sacketts bought a lot in Idaho in 2004. Soon after they started building, the EPA told them to stop. The two sides have been fighting ever since. READ MORE Advertisement Twitter glitches. No Trump talk: 3 Surprises about DeSantis' rollout A seemingly slow-motion rollout marked the formal debut of the Ron DeSantis 2024 presidential campaign against Donald Trump. READ MORE Biden taps Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown to replace Mark Milley as Joint Chiefs chair If confirmed, it would mark the first time the U.S. has had a Black Joint Chiefs of Staff and Black Defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, serving at the same time. READ MORE Marjorie Taylor Greene called for decorum. Democrats laughed. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been known to hurl insults at the president from the House floor, but on Wednesday she was calling for decorum. READ MORE Exclusive: Nikki Haley talks about her 2024 GOP path to victory Nikki Haley's path to victory in the 2024 Republican presidential primary could be through a highly coveted voting bloc: suburban women. READ MORE Sign up for the news you want Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don't miss out! We're always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔ SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔ Advertisement Newsletters   |    eNewspaper   |   Crosswords Follow Us Problem viewing email? View in browser Unsubscribe  •   Manage Newsletters  •  Terms of Service  •   Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights  •  Privacy Notice  •   Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy  •  Feedback