The judge presiding over the seditious conspiracy case against Oath Keepers members has raised alarms regarding the potential pardon of Stewart Rhodes, the group’s founder, who played a key role in planning a violent attempt to maintain Donald Trump in office following his defeat in the 2020 election.
President Trump, who is now a presidential candidate, has signaled his willingness to pardon individuals involved in the Capitol riots. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta warned that granting clemency to Rhodes would undermine the severity of his actions and the broader implications of the riot.
Judge Mehta praised former Oath Keepers member William Todd Wilson for his bravery in cooperating with the Justice Department’s investigation. Wilson accepted responsibility for his involvement, resulting in a sentence of home detention and probation rather than prison time. He expressed remorse for his participation in the attack and acknowledged its significant emotional toll on him.
The judge highlighted the gravity of the conspiracy orchestrated by Rhodes and cautioned that pardoning those involved would diminish the seriousness of their crimes and set a dangerous precedent.
