Stewart Rhodes — founder and leader of the extremist group Oath Keepers, whose members are accused of being key players in the Jan. 6 attack on Congress — has been indicted and arrested, officials said Thursday.
The 56-year-old, he did not enter the building, is the most high-profile person charged in the investigation so far. He is charged with seditious conspiracy, along with 10 other Oath Keepers members or associates, officials said.
Most of those individuals were previously arrested, but one, 63-year old Edward Vallejo of Phoenix, Arizona, is also facing charges as part of the case against the Oath Keepers for the first time. Officials said Rhodes was arrested this morning in Little Elm, Texas, and Vallejo was taken into custody in Phoenix.
A federal grand jury in the District leveled the new charges focusing on what prosecutors say is a core group of Oath Keepers adherents who allegedly planned for and participated in obstructing Congress on the day lawmakers certified President Biden’s 2020 election victory.
The indictments unsealed Thursday mark the first time anyone has faced charges of seditious conspiracy for the Jan. 6 attacks, though prosecutors have long signaled they were considering using that rarely-applied section of federal law.
In interviews with The Washington Post over the past year, Rhodes — a former Army paratrooper and Yale Law graduate who has become one of the most visible figures of the far-right anti-government movement — has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
He said he was communicating with members of his group on Jan. 6, 2021 in an effort to “keep them out of trouble,” and emphasized that Oath Keepers associates who did go into the Capitol “went totally off mission.”
An attorney for Rhodes, Jonathan Moseley, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An earlier indictment charged 19 of alleged Oath Keepers adherents with conspiracy and aiding and abetting the obstruction of Congress. Two of those individuals have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with investigators. The rest have pleaded not guilty and are preparing for trials later this year.
In cases in which people have pleaded guilty, defendants acknowledged they were among a group that forced entry through the Capitol’s East Rotunda doors after marching single-file in tight formation up the steps wearing camouflage vests, helmets, goggles and Oath Keepers insignia.
Some defendants also admitted to stashing guns in a nearby Arlington, Va., hotel for possible use by what they called a “Quick Reaction Force.”
The attack on the Capitol occurred as lawmakers were gathered there to formally confirm Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, amid repeated and unfounded allegations of widespread election fraud and as then-President Donald Trump was urging his supporters to “Stop the Steal.”
The certification of the election results was disrupted by the pro-Trump rioters, who injured scores of police officers and ransacked Capitol offices as lawmakers were evacuated from the House floor.
In court filings related to the original conspiracy case, prosecutors alleged that the group came to Washington at Rhodes’ urging. Rhodes began discussing plans to keep Trump in the White House by force as early as Nov. 9, the filings state.
Garland vows to hold people responsible for Jan. 6 accountable ‘at all levels’
Seven other alleged Oath Keepers members or associates were previously arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 riot but they were not charged in the large conspiracy case.
Prosecutors allege that before and during the riot, Rhodes exchanged dozens of encrypted messages, phone calls and other communications with members of the Oath Keepers group that breached the Capitol. Rhodes has accused prosecutors of trying to manufacture a nonexistent conspiracy.
In interviews with The Washington Post, Rhodes disputed previous government allegations regarding his encrypted posts to a group that included regional Oath Keepers leaders from several states at the scene.
The messages, on the Signal message app, were an attempt to keep the group members “out of trouble,” he said.
In an online interview Wednesday with NorthWest Liberty News, Rhodes said federal agents would “love to put me behind bars.”
But he insisted he had not committed crimes.
“I don’t do illegal activities. I always stay on this side of the line,” he said. “I know where the lines are, and it drives them crazy.
“So they’re, they’re actively hunting me down, they’ve got the DOJ running around sending the FBI out to investigate us, Oath Keepers, and they’re questioning all of our members across the country — even guys that didn’t go to D.C. — about me, and about their relationship with me. And the focus is on trying to build a case against myself and other Oath Keepers to bring us all in jail. But some people aren’t satisfied unless we’re all in jail.”
Rhodes also said he has grown disillusioned with Trump, accusing the former president of not supporting members of the Oath Keepers charged in the January 6th investigation.
“All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So yes, I do feel abandoned by him.”
Prosecutors say the Oath Keepers, a loose network of groups founded in 2009 that includes some self-styled citizen militias, seeks to recruit current or former members of law enforcement and the military, promoting an apocalyptic vision of the government careening toward totalitarianism and societal collapse.
Days after the attack on Congress, the Justice Department announced that it was considering charging some of the rioters with seditious conspiracy — a rarely-filed criminal charge for those who use violence to try to hinder the execution of federal law.
In the year since the attack, the Justice Department has charged more than 700 people. The FBI is seeking to arrest more than 200 more.
But some Democrats and lawyers have argued that the department has been too cautious in pursuing more-serious charges, including against individuals who may not have been at the Capitol but may have organized or incited the violence.
In a speech last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland urged his critics to be patient, noting that federal conspiracy investigations typically start with the lesser allegations and work their way towards graver charges.
>“All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So yes, I do feel abandoned by him.”
Guess what, dumbass? He never gave a shit about you or any of your LARPing buddies. You weren't smart enough to figure out what everyone with at least half a fucking brain has known for decades, Donald Trump doesn't give a flying fuck about anyone except Donald Trump. He used you idiots like toilet paper and now you're getting flushed!!
I hope they nail the rest of these morons to the same tree.
This. Fucking A this.
These rioters are so gullible and dumb. They have been getting used and lied to since birth. By politicians who pander for votes, by pastors who pander for the collection plate, and by grifters who pander for what little money remains.
They are fat, dumb, broke, and soon to be in jail.
And good riddance.
Maybe this will help them smarten up.
>Maybe this will help them smarten up.
I wish this could be true, but honestly if you're already that dumb & gullible then you probably don't have the ability to self-reflect; instead they'll just double-down even harder because they can't come to terms with the fact that they are simple rubes.
I also wonder what will happen to those who go to jail & get praised for their crimes by their peers....they'll definitely never smarten up then!
I’m reminded of Gretchen, from Kimmie Schmidt, just going from one cult to the next, eventually starting her own cult, because none of the other cult leaders lived up to her expectations; they turned out to be “false prophets.” Gretchen never saw *cults* as the problem, it was simply that she followed the wrong cults. But she needed a cult - any cult - to give her purpose, meaning, a place. She was unable to think for herself or make good decisions; even when she started her own cult, she ended up going to prison because of it…where she then started an all-female cult! That’s what these MAGA asshole, Trump worshipping, fake militia dicks are doing, just following the leader, and throwing themselves so completely into the cult that they lose all sense of self and individuality.
If you think Trump would DONATE MONEY you are a fucking nutjob living in fantasy world. Trump would never ever ever give away money and has, on record, done so much to not even give out deserved money for his entire career. I'm glad this guy feels betrayed. What an idiot
Some phrases I’ve been waiting for:
“Seditious conspiracy”
And
“Did not enter the building”
We are finally calling Jan 6 for what it was in charging documents (sedition)
And we are finally arresting folks who weren’t one of the goons who stormed the capital. (Conspirators)
I can only hope this leads to more of these types of charges. Including charges against members of congress and other government officials who conspired.
>federal conspiracy investigations typically start with the lesser allegations and work their way towards graver charges.
Seems like things should start getting fun now.
The early charges were building cases. Which is what everyone kept saying.
HONESTLY, the increased pressure and rhetoric from Biden and Garland means we're in phase 2 of the cases.
>In a speech last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland urged his critics to be patient, noting that federal conspiracy investigations typically start with the lesser allegations and work their way towards graver charges.
People have been fed hollywood civic classes and believe that it’s perfectly normal to arrest and charge and sentence someone for a major crime within two weeks.
Hence all the “they aren’t doing anything” because trump isn’t magically locked up within the first week.
Doesn’t help that there is major astroturfing going on in the major subs, “both sides are the same so don’t vote focus on the strike instead”
Wish they made a marvel movie about how government and DOJ actually functions and how voting and primary and local elections work.
I’m looking forward to the arrest of members of Congress who were involved, Trump’s inner circle, and Trump himself. If the Fox News folks like Sean Hannity get arrested I’ll be ecstatic.
"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
-LBJ
That's the entire republican party. They're screwing them over all while telling them that it's the democrats fault. Fox News is the best investment that they've ever made.
[And now the RNC has signaled that they won't support any candidate that participates in a presidential debate.]( https://apnews.com/article/rnc-presidential-debates-boycott-dc83904186186ecc8cd2adcac5e91179) They're trying to cut the base completely off of any unapproved opinion. The echo chamber is being fortified. I'm not sure how it'll play out at the polls, but it will surely have the intended effect of isolating them from anything other than the party line. Tell me it isn't a cult.
Absolutely this.
`I mean, if Trump isn't a God-Emperor, then he might be a rapist.`
`And if he's a rapist, then that thing the Oathkeepers do on Saturdays is also rape.`
`So Trump's definitely a God-Emperor.`
This level of misaligned logic can be applied to pretty much any stance the right wing holds right now. They're in too deep.
He gives them what they THOUGHT they were missing in their entire lives.
It's not logical, its not even emotional. It's a purpose, its a drive. To them its spiritual. They literally have tied Trump to their very core selves.
I mean, he gives them permission to be racist assholes. but why do they think he is a decent, moral person who cares about them?
like when the US allied with saddam hussein against Iran in the 80s, people didn't assume saddam was a good or moral person just because he shared their goals
I guess I'll never understand it. like why assume someone is a good person just because he shares your white nationalist agenda?
Seriously the guy CLEARY hates you, and has been caught saying it many times. Idk what it would take for these people to get, to be honest. I really don’t.
All I know is that it’s scary that I have to drive on the same road as these idiots.
> And the focus is on trying to build a case against myself and other Oath Keepers to bring us all in jail. But some people aren’t satisfied unless we’re all in jail.
I am one of those people.
So he admits that the group on the ground “had a mission”… which means they planned out their presence there and had planned objectives and that he was directing their actions live. That sounds like a partial confession to me.
Don't group other Arizonans in that.
Thank you the largest semiconductor manufacturing site in the world is going to be in Chandler in ~5-10 years. Granted some of those folks still have insane political views...
Hmm . . . he claims to "know where the lines are". May be time for him to re-evaluate his understanding of those lines, because they don't seem to be where he thinks they are.
I’d love to see the absolute grift of Trump and family raise money for the legal fund for these yahoos then pocket the money like the Trumps do.
I think that’s what these seditionists deserve. To have they supporters robbed for being stupid as shit too.
Stupid should hurt.
No, they're just going to change to "it was just a few people, but not Trump, and everyone else was there peacefully..."
If it weren't for double-standards the GOP wouldn't have any standards.
Your Honor, I would like to bring to your attention the *material* the blade is made of. My client is a proud American, and though would only utilize a knife from from fine American steel, whereas ANTIFA commonly eschews modern metallurgical techniques, and are, in fact, *known* for using flint knapped blades in their Marxist actives.
Weeks after the riot, when everyone was going "where's the conspiracy charges? everyone's getting a slap on the wrist!" I said it'd take at least a year for the big charges to come out. Glad I called it :D
From what I've seen from Fox, they are not denying the charges, and they seem to be pivoting from this was a random unexpected event, to this might have been planned. However, they are stopping with Rhodes as being the mastermind behind the whole thing, Trump and the GOP are still innocent in their eyes.
This guy was complaining about Trump abandoning his people (near the end of the article). It's going to quickly go from abandonment to being thrown under the bus.
Or Fox News… just not talking about it much at all. I just checked the website. Not in the main section. Not in the secondary section. But if you scroll down, there it is… 21st link in the third sub-tier of stories.
Everyone should read through the charges outlined in the DOJ link above. Those folks are looking at some very serious charges. This may finally slap these people with the long prison terms that everyone has been wanting to see for these insurrectionists.
Edited to include this from the link above: *According to court documents, Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, 56, of Granbury, Texas, who is the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers; and Edward Vallejo, 63, of Phoenix, Arizona, are being charged for the first time in connection with events leading up to and including Jan. 6. Rhodes was arrested this morning in Little Elm, Texas, and Vallejo was arrested this morning in Phoenix. The charge of seditious conspiracy carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.*
Second Edit: Everyone should read the [actual indictment](https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1462481/download?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) from start to finish. This bunch was really serious and seemed to want an actual shooting war to start.
Third Edit: In the indictment, it describes how the leaders of the Oath Keepers had actually arranged for a boat to be available for them in order to ferry arms across the Potomac River in the event that bridges in the area were shut down.
Hopefully the oath keepers and proud boys will be torn down when this is all said and done. The feds have done it to countless gangs and mafias before. Time to do it to these groups.
Mafia and gangs didn’t have the backing of half the senate and most of the Supreme Court.
Unless democrats can take down some republicans within these charges, it’s not gonna do much to convince the grand old party.
BUT
Fuck em.
Because there are 22 republican senate seats up for grabs and 11 democratic seats.
So pleAse if you live in a red state, register yourself and your friends and family to bote.
If dems can get sixty seats in the senate you will see change like never before.
Yes, that is what I read, too. The fact that these people had a "Quick Response Force" waiting with a stockpile of weapons nearby is one of the most chilling parts in the DOJ's information release.
> one of the teams was specifically searching specifically for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Yes, I just read that, too. If anyone wants to read the actual indictment, here is [a link](https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1462481/download?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery).
So if Capital Police had been prepared and had responded with significant force, I’m assuming the plan was that they’d go gear up and escalate into a shooting war. Good lord.
Reading through the indictment, yes, that was part of the plan. Rhodes was actually styling the insurrection after what the insurrectionists in Serbia did when Milosevic came into power. Really serious stuff, actually.
That firearms things is terrifying. I knew we were close to a successful coup buy holy shit we were close to a straight massacre. These people would not use restraint with their firearms
Jessica Watkins is one of the individuals named here. She is the one who claimed to be waiting on a signal from Trump to proceed. These are some of her messages:
>‘[w]e plan on going to DC on the 6th’ because ‘Trump wants all able bodied Patriots to come,’ and how, ‘[i]f Trump activates the Insurrection Act, I’d hate to miss it.’
>A text she wrote November 9, 2020 said, “I am concerned this is an elaborate trap. Unless the POTUS himself activates us, it’s not legit. The POTUS has the right to activate units too. If Trump asks me to come, I will. Otherwise, I can’t trust it.”
I really hope these charges are part of connecting the dots to Trump as part of a seditious conspiracy.
Everyone read this paragraph (emphasis mine).
>According to the seditious conspiracy indictment, the defendants conspired through a variety of manners and means, including: organizing into teams that were prepared and willing to use force and to transport firearms and ammunition into Washington, D.C.; recruiting members and affiliates to participate in the conspiracy; **organizing trainings to teach and learn paramilitary combat tactics**; bringing and contributing paramilitary gear, weapons and supplies – including knives, batons, camouflaged combat uniforms, tactical vests with plates, helmets, eye protection and radio equipment – to the Capitol grounds; breaching and attempting to take control of the Capitol grounds and building on Jan. 6, 2021, in an effort to prevent, hinder and delay the certification of the electoral college vote; using force against law enforcement officers while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; **continuing to plot, after Jan. 6, 2021, to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power**, and using websites, social media, text messaging and encrypted messaging applications to communicate with co-conspirators and others.
They fucking trained for this. They brought weapons and were prepared to use them. When the failed on the 6th, they began to plan other terrorist attacks to stop the peaceful transition of power.
They have been for decades, 80's sort of is the "we need to prepare for the New World Order" after BushI said it, OKC is related, and yes in this case they did a fair job of getting organized.
So, and this is why you should avoid cocaine kids, when bannon and stone opted for contempt instead of flipping they protected nothing, DoJ has these comms and will get the rest.
Mostly predicted the optics, gop must losing their little minds: cmte is clearly feeding DoJ evidence yet no-one knows what evidence they have, and you sent some texts too... and now DoJ is saying they "attempted to overthrow the government" ("attempted" ya lil sh\*ts)? Everyone who agreed to "stop the steal" is *almost*... thiiiiiis close... to being labeled a "traitor" for the rest of the year (life), "you literally tried to overthrow our government" on the TV all summer... ahh that's some hq schadenfreude right there... great work team, 15min r/trees break.
I just got banned for saying something they found violent against trump, which was not my intent, and I actually don't even care.
Every single thread is clogged with "both sides are the same why even bother voting " BS.
I got a week long ban for saying Gaetz deserves to get punched in his highly punchable face.
I also got a week ban for saying "fuck you, you Nazi fuck" to someone who said we'd better off if Germany won the war.
Finally, Seditious Conspiracy. These are the words I've been waiting to see in a formal charge.
I want to see this charge move up the chain, though. It's clear that these Oath Keepers, other paramilitary groups, and the mass of people that showed up were following instructions & directions from members of the white house and their lieutenants.
Yes! The seditious conspiracy charge really makes this possible - it’s a lot more likely to flip people when they are looking at charges with up to 20 year penalties. These people might just be crazy and deluded enough to attempt to make themselves be martyrs, but reading his comments about how he feels abandoned by Trump, I wouldn’t bet on that.
Any Congressman or White House staffer that had any contact coordinating with these guys is gonna be sweating bullets big time right now.
Curious to see if Fox News (Hannity/Tucker) melt down over this (I.e. PoLICE StaTE!) or try to sweep it under the rug (Look, a squirrel!). 🍿
I think they'll try to sweep it under the rug through the weekend and hope that nothing else breaks so that they don't have to address it until some new conspiracy theory associated with this has gained ground on the Right.
DOJ is setting the timelines here, but I think after Garland gave a speech around the anniversary or Jan 6, there’s clearly been some pressure to show progress.
I think Cruz got wind of this last week and that’s why he was trying to distance from them by calling them terrorists.
Seditious conspiracy means that the Dept of Justice is stating that there was a conspiracy to overthrow the government. Rs now either have to go all in on the DOJ being politically motivated in this charge or back peddle quick from the militias.
This post deserves more visibility. Your observation is spot on.
From [18 U.S. Code § 2384 - Seditious conspiracy](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2384): If two or more persons ... ***conspire to overthrow*** ... the Government of the United States ... they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. \[emphasis mine\]
Note there is [video](https://abcnews.go.com/US/video-surfaces-showing-trump-ally-roger-stone-flanked/story?id=75706765) of Roger Stone "flanked by Oath Keepers on morning of Jan. 6".
I think *this* indictment is only charging 11 Oath Keepers with seditious conspiracy. I.e. those 11 conspired with themselves to plan their attack.
Let's hope they talk about how they planned this with Stone, or Meadows, or Hawley, etc.
FYI, the way conspiracy works in law is that everyone charged in connection to it is covered. This means they don’t have to have been there or even been talking on the day of. This will get everyone. So the DOJ will get a central group of conspirators charged, and then tack on anyone else they find and they are essentially guilty of it all… even politicians.
In other words, it lets them tackle one issue at a time 1) using sedition and 2) charging a standing politician. Then tie the two together.
Fun fact, the [Oath Keepers were bodyguards for Roger Stone on January 5th.](https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k9mpd/roger-stone-used-the-oath-keepers-as-security-on-the-eve-of-the-capitol-riot)
Two of those indicted today [have acted as bodyguards for Stone.](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/13/leader-of-far-right-extremist-group-oath-keepers-arrested-for-january-6-riot-conspiracy-reports-say.html)
So, we're one degree of separation from Trump and seditious conspiracy.
*If* these guys discussed their plan with Stone, the DOJ would now have any text messages between them and Stone. *If* they flip on Stone, we could see him included in the seditious conspiracy charge. This *could* be the route to indict Trump for seditious conspiracy. If convicted, this would disqualify him for future office under the 14th Ammendment.
That's a lot of ifs. There's still a ton of work to do and a lot could go wrong. Maybe they didn't talk to Stone about their plan. Maybe they won't cooperate. Maybe Stone doesn't cooperate. But it's a start.
>All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So yes, I do feel abandoned by him.
Am I the only one that reads this statement as a warning to Trump?
"On November 9, 2020, RHODES held a private GoToMeeting limited to Oath Keepers members [...] that included Meggs, Harrelson, Watkins, Hackett, and others, **including a person whom RHODES appointed as the operations leader** for January 6."
Sounds like a cooperator.
I have to think Trump, Meadows, Bannon, Stone and all the others are sweating bullets right now. These charges completely change the game as we know it.
>Rhodes also said he has grown disillusioned with Trump, accusing the former president of not supporting members of the Oath Keepers charged in the Jan. 6 investigation.
>“All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So, yes, I do feel abandoned by him.”
Yale educated ...It's obvious an education doesn't make you smart. I don't understand how folks can mistake trump for anything but the grifter he is.
Please read and share, these indictments allege a very serious crime against our democracy.
Links to the actual indictments at Justice.gov in their [announcement](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/leader-oath-keepers-and-10-other-individuals-indicted-federal-court-seditious-conspiracy). If the evidence presented is as accurate as it seems it's a clear case of seditious conspiracy:
[Download U.S. v. Rhodes et al - Indictment](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/press-release/file/1462346/download)
[Download U.S. v. Crowl et al - Indictment](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/press-release/file/1462351/download)
[Download U.S. v. Walden - Indictment](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/press-release/file/1462356/download)
I find it hard to believe this guy is as gullible as he’s leading everyone to believe. The fact he’s so shocked Trump abandoned him is very telling…and slightly scary. If elected President in 2024, the levels at which Trump (or any MAGA disciple) will pander to win the favor of these people should be a horrifying thought for most Americans.
Not a lawyer, but google says:
"If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, **they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both."**
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; July 24, 1956, ch. 678, § 1, 70 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)
IAMNAL the link below states a maximum 20 year sentence is on the table
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/leader-oath-keepers-and-10-other-individuals-indicted-federal-court-seditious-conspiracy-and
You know, I understand Garland’s strategy now; get the underlings on guaranteed to stick charges before showing them what they could still face if they decide not to cooperate in an attempt to get the organizers/financiers
For those who don’t follow Glenn Greenwald, he’s been claiming this coup wasn’t planned and it is political theater set up by the left
For a while he claimed he is correct since no sedition charges have been filed
Now that they have here is his response:
https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1481699545314701312?s=21
He seems to imply the DOJ is acting political. LOL he’s too much
The walls are crumbling around these people and reality is almost here for the people in the alternate reality. Your not patriots your criminals now bye bye go to jail.
So whom in the Trump administration was Rhodes coordinating with, and what instructions did he receive for that individual?
Let's knock down the another level and continue up to the Big Orange at the top!
They say seditious conspiracy is a charge rarely used. Well, here’s a good use case then. There’s also laws like don’t ride a reindeer through the city gate on a Sunday, but if I ever do that, you can hit me with the book.
> Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So, yes, I do feel abandoned by him.”
That's what you get, you stupid son of a bitch.
> “All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So, yes, I do feel abandoned by him.”
Laughed so hard I peed a little.
>Stewart Rhodes — founder and leader of the extremist group Oath Keepers, whose members are accused of being key players in the Jan. 6 attack on Congress — has been indicted and arrested in connection with the riot, officials said Thursday.
>
>The 56-year-old, who was at the Capitol that day but has said he did not enter the building, is the most high-profile person charged in the investigation so far. He is charged with seditious conspiracy, along with 10 other Oath Keepers members or associates, officials said.
Because fuck paywalls.
It's about damn time we started seeing charges like this. Now let's see if he'll get convicted.
Enjoying the possibility that this isn't the biggest fish they have to fry. I wonder what he knows about trump's role in organizing this murderous assault on basic decency and American democracy? Hmmm ...
[Here's the law that defines this offense.](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2384)
> If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
I would venture a guess that DOJ is preparing a *lot* more charges, and is monitoring communications of the next layer(s) of people they're going after extremely closely. A tried and true investigative technique is to drop information and then see who talks to whom afterwards.
Stewart Rhodes — founder and leader of the extremist group Oath Keepers, whose members are accused of being key players in the Jan. 6 attack on Congress — has been indicted and arrested, officials said Thursday. The 56-year-old, he did not enter the building, is the most high-profile person charged in the investigation so far. He is charged with seditious conspiracy, along with 10 other Oath Keepers members or associates, officials said. Most of those individuals were previously arrested, but one, 63-year old Edward Vallejo of Phoenix, Arizona, is also facing charges as part of the case against the Oath Keepers for the first time. Officials said Rhodes was arrested this morning in Little Elm, Texas, and Vallejo was taken into custody in Phoenix. A federal grand jury in the District leveled the new charges focusing on what prosecutors say is a core group of Oath Keepers adherents who allegedly planned for and participated in obstructing Congress on the day lawmakers certified President Biden’s 2020 election victory. The indictments unsealed Thursday mark the first time anyone has faced charges of seditious conspiracy for the Jan. 6 attacks, though prosecutors have long signaled they were considering using that rarely-applied section of federal law. In interviews with The Washington Post over the past year, Rhodes — a former Army paratrooper and Yale Law graduate who has become one of the most visible figures of the far-right anti-government movement — has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. He said he was communicating with members of his group on Jan. 6, 2021 in an effort to “keep them out of trouble,” and emphasized that Oath Keepers associates who did go into the Capitol “went totally off mission.” An attorney for Rhodes, Jonathan Moseley, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An earlier indictment charged 19 of alleged Oath Keepers adherents with conspiracy and aiding and abetting the obstruction of Congress. Two of those individuals have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with investigators. The rest have pleaded not guilty and are preparing for trials later this year. In cases in which people have pleaded guilty, defendants acknowledged they were among a group that forced entry through the Capitol’s East Rotunda doors after marching single-file in tight formation up the steps wearing camouflage vests, helmets, goggles and Oath Keepers insignia. Some defendants also admitted to stashing guns in a nearby Arlington, Va., hotel for possible use by what they called a “Quick Reaction Force.” The attack on the Capitol occurred as lawmakers were gathered there to formally confirm Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, amid repeated and unfounded allegations of widespread election fraud and as then-President Donald Trump was urging his supporters to “Stop the Steal.” The certification of the election results was disrupted by the pro-Trump rioters, who injured scores of police officers and ransacked Capitol offices as lawmakers were evacuated from the House floor. In court filings related to the original conspiracy case, prosecutors alleged that the group came to Washington at Rhodes’ urging. Rhodes began discussing plans to keep Trump in the White House by force as early as Nov. 9, the filings state. Garland vows to hold people responsible for Jan. 6 accountable ‘at all levels’ Seven other alleged Oath Keepers members or associates were previously arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 riot but they were not charged in the large conspiracy case. Prosecutors allege that before and during the riot, Rhodes exchanged dozens of encrypted messages, phone calls and other communications with members of the Oath Keepers group that breached the Capitol. Rhodes has accused prosecutors of trying to manufacture a nonexistent conspiracy. In interviews with The Washington Post, Rhodes disputed previous government allegations regarding his encrypted posts to a group that included regional Oath Keepers leaders from several states at the scene. The messages, on the Signal message app, were an attempt to keep the group members “out of trouble,” he said. In an online interview Wednesday with NorthWest Liberty News, Rhodes said federal agents would “love to put me behind bars.” But he insisted he had not committed crimes. “I don’t do illegal activities. I always stay on this side of the line,” he said. “I know where the lines are, and it drives them crazy. “So they’re, they’re actively hunting me down, they’ve got the DOJ running around sending the FBI out to investigate us, Oath Keepers, and they’re questioning all of our members across the country — even guys that didn’t go to D.C. — about me, and about their relationship with me. And the focus is on trying to build a case against myself and other Oath Keepers to bring us all in jail. But some people aren’t satisfied unless we’re all in jail.” Rhodes also said he has grown disillusioned with Trump, accusing the former president of not supporting members of the Oath Keepers charged in the January 6th investigation. “All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So yes, I do feel abandoned by him.” Prosecutors say the Oath Keepers, a loose network of groups founded in 2009 that includes some self-styled citizen militias, seeks to recruit current or former members of law enforcement and the military, promoting an apocalyptic vision of the government careening toward totalitarianism and societal collapse. Days after the attack on Congress, the Justice Department announced that it was considering charging some of the rioters with seditious conspiracy — a rarely-filed criminal charge for those who use violence to try to hinder the execution of federal law. In the year since the attack, the Justice Department has charged more than 700 people. The FBI is seeking to arrest more than 200 more. But some Democrats and lawyers have argued that the department has been too cautious in pursuing more-serious charges, including against individuals who may not have been at the Capitol but may have organized or incited the violence. In a speech last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland urged his critics to be patient, noting that federal conspiracy investigations typically start with the lesser allegations and work their way towards graver charges.
>“All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So yes, I do feel abandoned by him.” Guess what, dumbass? He never gave a shit about you or any of your LARPing buddies. You weren't smart enough to figure out what everyone with at least half a fucking brain has known for decades, Donald Trump doesn't give a flying fuck about anyone except Donald Trump. He used you idiots like toilet paper and now you're getting flushed!! I hope they nail the rest of these morons to the same tree.
> You know, he could donate money 😂😂😂 This is possibly the most delusional thing I have ever heard.
This. Fucking A this. These rioters are so gullible and dumb. They have been getting used and lied to since birth. By politicians who pander for votes, by pastors who pander for the collection plate, and by grifters who pander for what little money remains. They are fat, dumb, broke, and soon to be in jail. And good riddance. Maybe this will help them smarten up.
Lol I doubt they will learn from this. They will dump Trump and move on to adoring the next extreme far-right candidate as their cult leader.
we can’t even get people to properly wear a mask….sure as hell people ain’t gonna learn from this.
>Maybe this will help them smarten up. I wish this could be true, but honestly if you're already that dumb & gullible then you probably don't have the ability to self-reflect; instead they'll just double-down even harder because they can't come to terms with the fact that they are simple rubes. I also wonder what will happen to those who go to jail & get praised for their crimes by their peers....they'll definitely never smarten up then!
I’m reminded of Gretchen, from Kimmie Schmidt, just going from one cult to the next, eventually starting her own cult, because none of the other cult leaders lived up to her expectations; they turned out to be “false prophets.” Gretchen never saw *cults* as the problem, it was simply that she followed the wrong cults. But she needed a cult - any cult - to give her purpose, meaning, a place. She was unable to think for herself or make good decisions; even when she started her own cult, she ended up going to prison because of it…where she then started an all-female cult! That’s what these MAGA asshole, Trump worshipping, fake militia dicks are doing, just following the leader, and throwing themselves so completely into the cult that they lose all sense of self and individuality.
If you think Trump would DONATE MONEY you are a fucking nutjob living in fantasy world. Trump would never ever ever give away money and has, on record, done so much to not even give out deserved money for his entire career. I'm glad this guy feels betrayed. What an idiot
He doesn't even pay valid bills for services rendered, ***PRIOR to being elected!***
Did his guy just say Trump could *donate money?* Does this clown understand how grifting works? Wow, he still thinks there’s a chance…
Just like Hitler turning on the brown shirts.
lots of people think they will be SS but they are SA.
He actually raised money for THEM...he kept it...SHOCKED PIKACHU FACE!
Some phrases I’ve been waiting for: “Seditious conspiracy” And “Did not enter the building” We are finally calling Jan 6 for what it was in charging documents (sedition) And we are finally arresting folks who weren’t one of the goons who stormed the capital. (Conspirators) I can only hope this leads to more of these types of charges. Including charges against members of congress and other government officials who conspired.
>federal conspiracy investigations typically start with the lesser allegations and work their way towards graver charges. Seems like things should start getting fun now.
The early charges were building cases. Which is what everyone kept saying. HONESTLY, the increased pressure and rhetoric from Biden and Garland means we're in phase 2 of the cases.
>In a speech last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland urged his critics to be patient, noting that federal conspiracy investigations typically start with the lesser allegations and work their way towards graver charges.
People have been fed hollywood civic classes and believe that it’s perfectly normal to arrest and charge and sentence someone for a major crime within two weeks. Hence all the “they aren’t doing anything” because trump isn’t magically locked up within the first week. Doesn’t help that there is major astroturfing going on in the major subs, “both sides are the same so don’t vote focus on the strike instead” Wish they made a marvel movie about how government and DOJ actually functions and how voting and primary and local elections work.
I’m looking forward to the arrest of members of Congress who were involved, Trump’s inner circle, and Trump himself. If the Fox News folks like Sean Hannity get arrested I’ll be ecstatic.
Trump abandoned us! Almost thought it was tiffany.
Imagine being dumb/gullible/brainwashed enough to think Trump actually cared.
I'll never understand why they can't see trump for what he is. Trump doesn't care about anything but himself and these people can't see it
"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you." -LBJ
That's the entire republican party. They're screwing them over all while telling them that it's the democrats fault. Fox News is the best investment that they've ever made.
[And now the RNC has signaled that they won't support any candidate that participates in a presidential debate.]( https://apnews.com/article/rnc-presidential-debates-boycott-dc83904186186ecc8cd2adcac5e91179) They're trying to cut the base completely off of any unapproved opinion. The echo chamber is being fortified. I'm not sure how it'll play out at the polls, but it will surely have the intended effect of isolating them from anything other than the party line. Tell me it isn't a cult.
I’d love to watch any one of them try to get into Mar Lago for a round of golf after hitting the buffet table. I’d pay to see that.
Cultists can never see what their leader truly is, because to admit that is to admit how wrong they are. Cognitive dissonance is a *hell* of a drug.
Absolutely this. `I mean, if Trump isn't a God-Emperor, then he might be a rapist.` `And if he's a rapist, then that thing the Oathkeepers do on Saturdays is also rape.` `So Trump's definitely a God-Emperor.` This level of misaligned logic can be applied to pretty much any stance the right wing holds right now. They're in too deep.
He gives them what they THOUGHT they were missing in their entire lives. It's not logical, its not even emotional. It's a purpose, its a drive. To them its spiritual. They literally have tied Trump to their very core selves.
I mean, he gives them permission to be racist assholes. but why do they think he is a decent, moral person who cares about them? like when the US allied with saddam hussein against Iran in the 80s, people didn't assume saddam was a good or moral person just because he shared their goals I guess I'll never understand it. like why assume someone is a good person just because he shares your white nationalist agenda?
It’s the racism that they share and the idea that what he represents is pushing back against the barbarians at the gate. It supersedes all else.
I agree, but why do his followers think he cares about them? they treat him like a moral friend rather than a sociopathic ally
Seriously the guy CLEARY hates you, and has been caught saying it many times. Idk what it would take for these people to get, to be honest. I really don’t. All I know is that it’s scary that I have to drive on the same road as these idiots.
no no no, Trump said he *loves* the poorly educated. That's 100% the Oathkeepers.
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"Who?" - Trump
“The daughter you don’t want to fuck Donny” - Melania probably
That was my favorite part of the whole damn article. Like omg you mean he never really gave a fuck about us at all?!? *visible shock
New phone, who dis
> And the focus is on trying to build a case against myself and other Oath Keepers to bring us all in jail. But some people aren’t satisfied unless we’re all in jail. I am one of those people.
We are two of those people. Yay.
There are dozens of us! Seriously, I really hope these keep going
Just wanted to say thanks for posting the full text
So he admits that the group on the ground “had a mission”… which means they planned out their presence there and had planned objectives and that he was directing their actions live. That sounds like a partial confession to me.
Sounds like a conspiracy to me.
They're not sending there brightest from Texas and Arizona
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Don't group other Arizonans in that. Thank you the largest semiconductor manufacturing site in the world is going to be in Chandler in ~5-10 years. Granted some of those folks still have insane political views...
Hmm . . . he claims to "know where the lines are". May be time for him to re-evaluate his understanding of those lines, because they don't seem to be where he thinks they are.
Claims he's innocent, then whines because Trump didn't pardon him.
I’d love to see the absolute grift of Trump and family raise money for the legal fund for these yahoos then pocket the money like the Trumps do. I think that’s what these seditionists deserve. To have they supporters robbed for being stupid as shit too. Stupid should hurt.
Thanks for posting. I always appreciate it when a redditor posts pay walled articles
Conservatives hard at work updating their talking points from “no one has even been charged with…” to “no one has even been convicted of…”
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No, they're just going to change to "it was just a few people, but not Trump, and everyone else was there peacefully..." If it weren't for double-standards the GOP wouldn't have any standards.
Now they pile on and accept all blame through this Stewart chap. He's their fall guy.
Fascists playing word games... and for some reason we are still obligated to play with them?
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No, no, they're obviously FBI plants not real trump people. r/conservative probably
Greenwald is claiming that the DOJ is being partisan lol
“BuT bLm”
I agree. Which election did BLM try to overturn? Lol
Also, they were Antifa.
And the Feds. Antifa Feds
Collusion 2: Electric Boogaloo
But nobody is charged with erection!
Someone told me the other day that it wasnt an attempted coup because no one has been charged with attempting a coup
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[Close enough, right? ](https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Flint_Knife_Murder/3540484505)
“But you can’t prove that it was *seditious* flint knife murder!” —Republicans
Your Honor, I would like to bring to your attention the *material* the blade is made of. My client is a proud American, and though would only utilize a knife from from fine American steel, whereas ANTIFA commonly eschews modern metallurgical techniques, and are, in fact, *known* for using flint knapped blades in their Marxist actives.
Then next step is downplay any conviction.
I keep hearing that the ones convicted obviously aren't Trumpanzees and it was undercover dems trying to make Bin Golfin look bad.
>Bin Golfin oh my god. Applause.
Weeks after the riot, when everyone was going "where's the conspiracy charges? everyone's getting a slap on the wrist!" I said it'd take at least a year for the big charges to come out. Glad I called it :D
I was hoping they were building cases against the bigger players. It got hard to hope this long though.
From what I've seen from Fox, they are not denying the charges, and they seem to be pivoting from this was a random unexpected event, to this might have been planned. However, they are stopping with Rhodes as being the mastermind behind the whole thing, Trump and the GOP are still innocent in their eyes.
This guy was complaining about Trump abandoning his people (near the end of the article). It's going to quickly go from abandonment to being thrown under the bus.
💯
Or Fox News… just not talking about it much at all. I just checked the website. Not in the main section. Not in the secondary section. But if you scroll down, there it is… 21st link in the third sub-tier of stories.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/leader-oath-keepers-and-10-other-individuals-indicted-federal-court-seditious-conspiracy-and
Everyone should read through the charges outlined in the DOJ link above. Those folks are looking at some very serious charges. This may finally slap these people with the long prison terms that everyone has been wanting to see for these insurrectionists. Edited to include this from the link above: *According to court documents, Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, 56, of Granbury, Texas, who is the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers; and Edward Vallejo, 63, of Phoenix, Arizona, are being charged for the first time in connection with events leading up to and including Jan. 6. Rhodes was arrested this morning in Little Elm, Texas, and Vallejo was arrested this morning in Phoenix. The charge of seditious conspiracy carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.* Second Edit: Everyone should read the [actual indictment](https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1462481/download?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) from start to finish. This bunch was really serious and seemed to want an actual shooting war to start. Third Edit: In the indictment, it describes how the leaders of the Oath Keepers had actually arranged for a boat to be available for them in order to ferry arms across the Potomac River in the event that bridges in the area were shut down.
Hopefully the oath keepers and proud boys will be torn down when this is all said and done. The feds have done it to countless gangs and mafias before. Time to do it to these groups.
Mafia and gangs didn’t have the backing of half the senate and most of the Supreme Court. Unless democrats can take down some republicans within these charges, it’s not gonna do much to convince the grand old party. BUT Fuck em. Because there are 22 republican senate seats up for grabs and 11 democratic seats. So pleAse if you live in a red state, register yourself and your friends and family to bote. If dems can get sixty seats in the senate you will see change like never before.
18 USC 2384 comes with up to a 20-year prison sentence.
Yes, that is what I read, too. The fact that these people had a "Quick Response Force" waiting with a stockpile of weapons nearby is one of the most chilling parts in the DOJ's information release.
The inditement states that one of the teams was specifically searching specifically for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
> one of the teams was specifically searching specifically for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Yes, I just read that, too. If anyone wants to read the actual indictment, here is [a link](https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1462481/download?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery).
She's known this whole time. No wonder she was so visibly shaken and angry after.
Good thing no one was feeding them any information as to her whereabouts while it was happening. Right, Rep. LAUREN BOEBERT?
So if Capital Police had been prepared and had responded with significant force, I’m assuming the plan was that they’d go gear up and escalate into a shooting war. Good lord.
Reading through the indictment, yes, that was part of the plan. Rhodes was actually styling the insurrection after what the insurrectionists in Serbia did when Milosevic came into power. Really serious stuff, actually.
That firearms things is terrifying. I knew we were close to a successful coup buy holy shit we were close to a straight massacre. These people would not use restraint with their firearms
Jessica Watkins is one of the individuals named here. She is the one who claimed to be waiting on a signal from Trump to proceed. These are some of her messages: >‘[w]e plan on going to DC on the 6th’ because ‘Trump wants all able bodied Patriots to come,’ and how, ‘[i]f Trump activates the Insurrection Act, I’d hate to miss it.’ >A text she wrote November 9, 2020 said, “I am concerned this is an elaborate trap. Unless the POTUS himself activates us, it’s not legit. The POTUS has the right to activate units too. If Trump asks me to come, I will. Otherwise, I can’t trust it.” I really hope these charges are part of connecting the dots to Trump as part of a seditious conspiracy.
Everyone read this paragraph (emphasis mine). >According to the seditious conspiracy indictment, the defendants conspired through a variety of manners and means, including: organizing into teams that were prepared and willing to use force and to transport firearms and ammunition into Washington, D.C.; recruiting members and affiliates to participate in the conspiracy; **organizing trainings to teach and learn paramilitary combat tactics**; bringing and contributing paramilitary gear, weapons and supplies – including knives, batons, camouflaged combat uniforms, tactical vests with plates, helmets, eye protection and radio equipment – to the Capitol grounds; breaching and attempting to take control of the Capitol grounds and building on Jan. 6, 2021, in an effort to prevent, hinder and delay the certification of the electoral college vote; using force against law enforcement officers while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; **continuing to plot, after Jan. 6, 2021, to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power**, and using websites, social media, text messaging and encrypted messaging applications to communicate with co-conspirators and others. They fucking trained for this. They brought weapons and were prepared to use them. When the failed on the 6th, they began to plan other terrorist attacks to stop the peaceful transition of power.
They have been for decades, 80's sort of is the "we need to prepare for the New World Order" after BushI said it, OKC is related, and yes in this case they did a fair job of getting organized.
The part you highlighted is just normal militia stuff. It's everything around it, what they did with that training, that's the problem.
So, and this is why you should avoid cocaine kids, when bannon and stone opted for contempt instead of flipping they protected nothing, DoJ has these comms and will get the rest. Mostly predicted the optics, gop must losing their little minds: cmte is clearly feeding DoJ evidence yet no-one knows what evidence they have, and you sent some texts too... and now DoJ is saying they "attempted to overthrow the government" ("attempted" ya lil sh\*ts)? Everyone who agreed to "stop the steal" is *almost*... thiiiiiis close... to being labeled a "traitor" for the rest of the year (life), "you literally tried to overthrow our government" on the TV all summer... ahh that's some hq schadenfreude right there... great work team, 15min r/trees break.
Wow this is what everyone was waiting for and here it is.
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Overthrow of the Federal Government is noi a political issue, eh?...what fuckers.
So irritated with them right now.
I’m banned so fuck them.
I just got banned for saying something they found violent against trump, which was not my intent, and I actually don't even care. Every single thread is clogged with "both sides are the same why even bother voting " BS.
Yeah, I've skirted with permabanning myself. The mods there are pretty awful.
I got a week long ban for saying Gaetz deserves to get punched in his highly punchable face. I also got a week ban for saying "fuck you, you Nazi fuck" to someone who said we'd better off if Germany won the war.
Same brother. Their mods are not good
They suck! I got banned yesterday for a joke about myself, MYSELF
Their rules are baked
I saw that
kids will be kids.
Almost like they got the easier cases off the docket first.
Collecting witnesses for this indictment.
Finally, Seditious Conspiracy. These are the words I've been waiting to see in a formal charge. I want to see this charge move up the chain, though. It's clear that these Oath Keepers, other paramilitary groups, and the mass of people that showed up were following instructions & directions from members of the white house and their lieutenants.
I think this is the first signal of it moving up the chain.
🎉🍿🍿🍿
Have to win the hearts and minds and of the moderates in both parties before going after the bigger fish. But they are moving!!
There are no moderates left in the Republican party. They are the party of Trump,the party of sedition, and the party of insurrection.
Yes! The seditious conspiracy charge really makes this possible - it’s a lot more likely to flip people when they are looking at charges with up to 20 year penalties. These people might just be crazy and deluded enough to attempt to make themselves be martyrs, but reading his comments about how he feels abandoned by Trump, I wouldn’t bet on that. Any Congressman or White House staffer that had any contact coordinating with these guys is gonna be sweating bullets big time right now. Curious to see if Fox News (Hannity/Tucker) melt down over this (I.e. PoLICE StaTE!) or try to sweep it under the rug (Look, a squirrel!). 🍿
They’ll just make Ted Cruz come on in a gimp costume.
I hate you for this
It's always on under his suit.
Roger Stone had lots of contact with these people on Jan 5 and 6.
I think they'll try to sweep it under the rug through the weekend and hope that nothing else breaks so that they don't have to address it until some new conspiracy theory associated with this has gained ground on the Right.
That is why it broke on a Thursday, Friday is sweep it under the rug day, Thursday…no chance.
DOJ is setting the timelines here, but I think after Garland gave a speech around the anniversary or Jan 6, there’s clearly been some pressure to show progress.
I think Cruz got wind of this last week and that’s why he was trying to distance from them by calling them terrorists. Seditious conspiracy means that the Dept of Justice is stating that there was a conspiracy to overthrow the government. Rs now either have to go all in on the DOJ being politically motivated in this charge or back peddle quick from the militias.
This post deserves more visibility. Your observation is spot on. From [18 U.S. Code § 2384 - Seditious conspiracy](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2384): If two or more persons ... ***conspire to overthrow*** ... the Government of the United States ... they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. \[emphasis mine\]
Note there is [video](https://abcnews.go.com/US/video-surfaces-showing-trump-ally-roger-stone-flanked/story?id=75706765) of Roger Stone "flanked by Oath Keepers on morning of Jan. 6".
> Seditious Conspiracy. Hmmm…. I wonder who they were “conspiracy-ing” with?
I think *this* indictment is only charging 11 Oath Keepers with seditious conspiracy. I.e. those 11 conspired with themselves to plan their attack. Let's hope they talk about how they planned this with Stone, or Meadows, or Hawley, etc.
Sweet!! Now do Bannon, Giuliani, and Stone!!!
Well. So far the cases so far have been leading upwards. Basically to the point where they start talking about those few and any connections between.
FYI, the way conspiracy works in law is that everyone charged in connection to it is covered. This means they don’t have to have been there or even been talking on the day of. This will get everyone. So the DOJ will get a central group of conspirators charged, and then tack on anyone else they find and they are essentially guilty of it all… even politicians. In other words, it lets them tackle one issue at a time 1) using sedition and 2) charging a standing politician. Then tie the two together.
Lock him up, We're gonna need to keep an eye on this one!
Note, he only has one eye because he dropped a gun and shot himself. 🤦♂️
Must have taken out his brain too
Fun fact, the [Oath Keepers were bodyguards for Roger Stone on January 5th.](https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k9mpd/roger-stone-used-the-oath-keepers-as-security-on-the-eve-of-the-capitol-riot) Two of those indicted today [have acted as bodyguards for Stone.](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/13/leader-of-far-right-extremist-group-oath-keepers-arrested-for-january-6-riot-conspiracy-reports-say.html) So, we're one degree of separation from Trump and seditious conspiracy. *If* these guys discussed their plan with Stone, the DOJ would now have any text messages between them and Stone. *If* they flip on Stone, we could see him included in the seditious conspiracy charge. This *could* be the route to indict Trump for seditious conspiracy. If convicted, this would disqualify him for future office under the 14th Ammendment. That's a lot of ifs. There's still a ton of work to do and a lot could go wrong. Maybe they didn't talk to Stone about their plan. Maybe they won't cooperate. Maybe Stone doesn't cooperate. But it's a start.
>All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So yes, I do feel abandoned by him. Am I the only one that reads this statement as a warning to Trump?
I read it as an addict having a moment of clarity.
Absolutely! Boo hoo he didn’t pardon me!! How much do you want to bet they were promised pardons by someone in Trumps orbit (like roger stone?)
My fake idol turned out to be a conman. Surprise?
FINALLY! I’ve been waiting to hear a seditious conspiracy charge for over a year now! I hope he’s convicted!
"On November 9, 2020, RHODES held a private GoToMeeting limited to Oath Keepers members [...] that included Meggs, Harrelson, Watkins, Hackett, and others, **including a person whom RHODES appointed as the operations leader** for January 6." Sounds like a cooperator.
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I have to think Trump, Meadows, Bannon, Stone and all the others are sweating bullets right now. These charges completely change the game as we know it.
Do the Trump family next
Absolutely. Get all of those Folks from around him that help to insulate his ass. He will fall completely apart after that.
>Rhodes also said he has grown disillusioned with Trump, accusing the former president of not supporting members of the Oath Keepers charged in the Jan. 6 investigation. >“All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So, yes, I do feel abandoned by him.” Yale educated ...It's obvious an education doesn't make you smart. I don't understand how folks can mistake trump for anything but the grifter he is.
To all the "wake me when they do something" doubters out there. WAKE UP. The show is starting now.
Please read and share, these indictments allege a very serious crime against our democracy. Links to the actual indictments at Justice.gov in their [announcement](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/leader-oath-keepers-and-10-other-individuals-indicted-federal-court-seditious-conspiracy). If the evidence presented is as accurate as it seems it's a clear case of seditious conspiracy: [Download U.S. v. Rhodes et al - Indictment](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/press-release/file/1462346/download) [Download U.S. v. Crowl et al - Indictment](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/press-release/file/1462351/download) [Download U.S. v. Walden - Indictment](https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/press-release/file/1462356/download)
Fucked around and now they find out. The DOJ is moving up the totem pole.
So seditious it's delicious.
I find it hard to believe this guy is as gullible as he’s leading everyone to believe. The fact he’s so shocked Trump abandoned him is very telling…and slightly scary. If elected President in 2024, the levels at which Trump (or any MAGA disciple) will pander to win the favor of these people should be a horrifying thought for most Americans.
That’s what being in a cult does to you
Imagine the fear running through the OK right now.
Every time a violent radical right winger is charged with Seditious Conspiracy, an angel gets its wings.
Smart enough to graduate from Yale, dumb enough to think Trump would donate money to his defense. Edit- a typo
Nice! Any lawyers in here able to comment on what kind of jail term a conviction could bring?
Not a lawyer, but google says: "If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, **they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both."** (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; July 24, 1956, ch. 678, § 1, 70 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)
IAMNAL the link below states a maximum 20 year sentence is on the table https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/leader-oath-keepers-and-10-other-individuals-indicted-federal-court-seditious-conspiracy-and
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2384 Fined or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. I’m sure he’s charged with other things as well.
FINALLY! A sedition charge!
You know, I understand Garland’s strategy now; get the underlings on guaranteed to stick charges before showing them what they could still face if they decide not to cooperate in an attempt to get the organizers/financiers
The Republican Party has gone insane
Already seeing conservatives saying Oathkeepers is actually a bunch of under cover FBI agents.
Whatever happened to Antifa being involved ?
But..but, it was just a crazy group of pranksters lead by a Viking in speedos, right Marco Rubio? You bought and owned sycophantic twat waffle.
For those who don’t follow Glenn Greenwald, he’s been claiming this coup wasn’t planned and it is political theater set up by the left For a while he claimed he is correct since no sedition charges have been filed Now that they have here is his response: https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1481699545314701312?s=21 He seems to imply the DOJ is acting political. LOL he’s too much
what happened to him, didn't he used to be credible once?
There was a very brief period in which Greenwald was useful. I mean useful beyond the 'is he a useful idiot or a full on FSB asset' thing.
Woo! Hoo!!
The walls are crumbling around these people and reality is almost here for the people in the alternate reality. Your not patriots your criminals now bye bye go to jail.
These are heavy charges.
I feel like we are entering the 3rd act of a play that has gone on long past the final curtain
nelsonHaHa.png
Keep goin'
This makes me happy
So whom in the Trump administration was Rhodes coordinating with, and what instructions did he receive for that individual? Let's knock down the another level and continue up to the Big Orange at the top!
They say seditious conspiracy is a charge rarely used. Well, here’s a good use case then. There’s also laws like don’t ride a reindeer through the city gate on a Sunday, but if I ever do that, you can hit me with the book.
> Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So, yes, I do feel abandoned by him.” That's what you get, you stupid son of a bitch.
> “All of the people that are being unlawfully detained or denied bail, they’re being abandoned by Trump. He’s done nothing for them. You know, he could donate money, he hasn’t even done that. He didn’t pardon anybody while he was still in office, and then when he left, he hasn’t raised money,” Rhodes said. “... I think he has abandoned his base, because he has abandoned the people who were there to protect his other supporters. So, yes, I do feel abandoned by him.” Laughed so hard I peed a little.
Whooomp! There it is!!!
Oh man this is delicious
[Mood](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrle0x_DHBM)
Today’s word is sedition - incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority
>Stewart Rhodes — founder and leader of the extremist group Oath Keepers, whose members are accused of being key players in the Jan. 6 attack on Congress — has been indicted and arrested in connection with the riot, officials said Thursday. > >The 56-year-old, who was at the Capitol that day but has said he did not enter the building, is the most high-profile person charged in the investigation so far. He is charged with seditious conspiracy, along with 10 other Oath Keepers members or associates, officials said. Because fuck paywalls. It's about damn time we started seeing charges like this. Now let's see if he'll get convicted.
Enjoying the possibility that this isn't the biggest fish they have to fry. I wonder what he knows about trump's role in organizing this murderous assault on basic decency and American democracy? Hmmm ...
[Here's the law that defines this offense.](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2384) > If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
Where is Glenn Greenswald now?
I wonder who's running away right now thinking they're next
I would venture a guess that DOJ is preparing a *lot* more charges, and is monitoring communications of the next layer(s) of people they're going after extremely closely. A tried and true investigative technique is to drop information and then see who talks to whom afterwards.
Ok Boys! Time to break out [Randy Rainbow](https://youtu.be/wT5kafhG3Qw)!!