The founder of the far-right American group Oath Keepers denied Monday, November 7, the 21st day of his trial for "sedition", having "planned" the assault on the Capitol and considered it "stupid" that members of his militia s are attached to it.

Stewart Rhodes, a 57-year-old former serviceman known for his black eye patch and fiery rants, has been on trial for more than a month along with four other members of the Oath Keepers in federal court in Washington.

Prosecutors accuse them of having "conspired" to forcibly oppose the results of the 2020 presidential election.

"Like a general on the battlefield"

Helmeted and equipped with combat gear, they had joined the supporters of Donald Trump who had invaded the Capitol when the elected officials certified the victory of Joe Biden on January 6, 2021. Stewart Rhodes had remained outside, but according to prosecutors, he had led his troops with a radio "like a general on the battlefield".

"We were not there to block the certification of the results, we had not planned to enter the Capitol", he retorted with great assurance in front of the jurors.

"That was not part of our mission."

According to him, the Oath Keepers are "a law enforcement organization" and were simply to provide security during a demonstration called by Donald Trump to denounce the result of the election.

Claiming to have been presented with a fait accompli, he considered it "stupid" that some of its members entered the headquarters of Congress". "It opened the door to our political persecution, and see where we are", a- he added.

"Unconstitutional"

Prosecutor Kathryn Rakoczy then recalled that he had spent 17,000 dollars to buy weapons and equipment before January 6, while showing numerous messages in which he evoked, in particular, "a civil war".

With a law degree from the prestigious Yale University, Stewart Rhodes did not blink, urging the representative of the prosecution to prove that he had specifically called for violence on January 6.

According to him, these preparations were to allow the Oath Keepers to react quickly if Donald Trump had decided to declare a state of insurrection, under an 1807 law authorizing presidents to mobilize certain armed forces in exceptional contexts.

"It was the first time that we had an election that was so blatantly unconstitutional," he added, echoing the accusations of fraud brandished, without evidence, by the former Republican president.

More than 880 participants in the assault on the Capitol were arrested and hundreds convicted on charges ranging from assaulting police officers to simple trespassing.

But only a few members of the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys militia are being prosecuted for sedition, a charge punishable by 20 years in prison.

The trial of Stewart Rhodes, the first in this capacity, is therefore a test for the Ministry of Justice.

With AFP

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