A federal judge appointed by President Barack Obama provided a stark evaluation of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. On Tuesday, he granted a legal win to members of the Oath Keepers militia, as he accepted the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss cases against several defendants, including the group’s founder, Stewart Rhodes.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling nullified the convictions of Rhodes and other Oath Keepers who were previously found guilty of seditious conspiracy. They had been accused of trying to halt the power transition after President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. These nine defendants had already been released after Trump pardoned most of the approximately 1,600 individuals charged in the incident and commuted the sentences of the remainder.
James Lee Bright, Rhodes’ attorney, commented on X: “This chapter is now over. Congrats to the remaining defendants. Seditious Conspiracy should never have been charged. It was absolutely used fundamentally in the case of our client, Stewart Rhodes, as a thought crime.” Attempts to reach the Oath Keepers for remarks on Tuesday afternoon were unsuccessful.
When dismissing the cases, Judge Mehta criticized the decision by stating: “This is the last of the prosecutions seeking to hold accountable those responsible for the events of January 6. That book is now closed. Today’s epilogue diminishes the gravity of that day, denigrates the work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers who secured these convictions, and excuses criminal acts that caused a centuries-long pillar of our democracy – the peaceful transfer of presidential power – to buckle.”
He added that despite granting the request, the court could not alter the ending.
Breakdown of the Oath Keepers Case
On January 6, 2021, members of the Oath Keepers were part of the massive gathering of Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol. They aimed to disrupt Congress as it certified Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. Prosecutors claimed that the group’s leaders coordinated actions to obstruct the peaceful power transition.
A total of nearly 1,600 individuals faced federal charges related to the riot. More than 1,000 pleaded guilty, and around 250 were found guilty by trial. Sentences were handed to more than 1,100, with over 700 facing incarceration for durations ranging from several days to 22 years.
During the turmoil, over 130 officers sustained injuries, and subsequently, at least four officers who were present committed suicide. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick was attacked with pepper spray, had two strokes, and passed away on January 7. His death was ruled as natural causes by a medical examiner.
The Justice Department charged the Oath Keepers with serious offenses related to January 6, including seditious conspiracy. Despite the lengthy trials of 2022 and 2023 leading to convictions and 18-year prison sentences for Rhodes, they were granted clemency by Trump upon his return to office.
Judge Mehta’s ruling vacated these convictions and concluded the prosecutions after the Justice Department moved to dismiss the outstanding cases.
Overview of the Oath Keepers
The Oath Keepers is a far-right militia group founded in 2009 by Stewart Rhodes, a former Army paratrooper and Yale Law School alumnus. The organization attracts current and former military members, police officers, and first responders, pushing them to reject what they see as unconstitutional government orders. Though known for participating in armed standoffs and protests over the last decade, their name became nearly synonymous with the Capitol riot.
In a November 2025 interview with The Gateway Pundit, Rhodes revealed plans to “relaunch” and “rebuild” the Oath Keepers. He stated, “They tried to take us out after January 6 but what man means for evil, God will use for good.”
Rhodes expressed his intention to strengthen the group, emphasizing its mission’s critical nature.
This is ongoing breaking news, with further updates anticipated.