Watch the video: Founder of the “Oath Keepers” sentenced after the Capitol storm.
The founder of the right-wing militia Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in connection with the storming of the US Capitol two years ago. Federal District Judge Amit Mehta remained under the prosecutor’s demand of 25 years on Thursday. Former paratrooper and later lawyer Rhodes described himself as a “political prisoner” at the trial. In November, a jury found him guilty of, among other things, “seditious conspiracy”. The sentence is the heaviest in the trials of more than 1,000 people charged in connection with the attack. Thousands of supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the House of Parliament on January 6, 2021. Their goal was to prevent Congress from confirming current President Joe Biden’s election victory. Rhodes founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. The group focuses on recruiting police officers, soldiers and paramedics. They often appear heavily armed at demonstrations and political events.