Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for Jan. 6

A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes to 18 years in prison following his conviction on seditious conspiracy charges for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. 

The sentencing represents the longest prison term yet assigned to a figure involved in the riot, coming after Rhodes was found guilty on numerous other charges last November, including other felony charges such as obstruction of an official proceeding.

Judge Amit Mehta laid down the sentence with harsh words for Rhodes over a several minute speech, castigating the leader for referring to himself as a political prisoner earlier in the hearing.

“You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes,” Mehta said, adding that he presents “an ongoing threat and a peril to this country.”