Obama-Appointed Judge Issues Stark Criticism But Hands Oath Keepers Win
Judge Amit Mehta dismissed Oath Keepers cases but warned the move diminishes the gravity of the January 6 Capitol attack.
A federal judge appointed by Barack Obama issued a critical assessment of the January 6 Capitol attack while reluctantly granting a legal victory to Oath Keepers militia members, dismissing charges against them. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta formally overturned convictions for Stewart Rhodes and other Oath Keepers members, convicted of seditious conspiracy for plotting to prevent the transfer of power after President Donald Trump's 2020 election loss.
The ruling wiped away convictions for the nine defendants, who had already been released from prison following President Trump's pardon and sentence commutations. Mehta harshly criticized the outcome, stating it diminishes the gravity of January 6 and excuses criminal acts that threatened the peaceful transfer of presidential power.
Rhodes' attorney hailed the decision as the end of a troubling chapter, claiming the seditious conspiracy charge was a "thought crime." The Oath Keepers, founded in 2009 by Rhodes, is a far-right anti-government militia advocating for refusing government orders seen as unconstitutional. Rhodes plans to relaunch and rebuild the organization after the setback.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
