USA: Highest sentence to date for right-wing Capitol striker – 18 years in prison

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Stewart Rhodes

Photo: Susan Walsh / AP

More than two years after the storming of the US Capitol in Washington, the leader of a right-wing extremist militia has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Extremist Stewart Rhodes of the Oath Keepers had already been found guilty of "seditious conspiracy" in November. On Thursday, a court in the capital set the sentence. This is the highest penalty imposed so far for the attack on the seat of parliament in January 2021, US media reported.

The 57-year-old had been found guilty of forging a plot – with the aim of preventing the democratic change of power after the election of Republican President Donald Trump in 2020 by force. The offence of "seditious conspiracy" is particularly serious. It has rarely been used in the history of justice in the United States. Four other members of the "Oath Keepers" militia, which is classified as anti-government and violent, have already been convicted as a result.

Prosecutor demanded 25 years in prison

Prosecutors had demanded 25 years in prison for Rhodes. Among other things, she had requested that "terrorist conduct" be added as an aggravating element.

For »seditious conspiracy«, a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison can be imposed. However, the prosecution must prove that there was a conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government or to violently defy its authority. Trump supporters had stormed the seat of Congress on January 6, 2021, to prevent Democrat Joe Biden's November 2020 election victory from being confirmed. There were several deaths. Trump had incited his supporters in a speech.

According to the indictment, Rhodes and the other accused "Oath Keepers" had bought weapons and combat equipment and stored them in a hotel near the capital. Rhodes had acted "like a general on the battlefield" during the storming of the Capitol, the prosecutor said during the trial. Rhodes has denied planning an attack on the Capitol. He and his militia only wanted to provide security at a Trump rally in Washington on the day in question.

To date, the authorities have detained more than a thousand suspects in connection with the storming of the Capitol. Several »Oath Keepers« as well as members of the right-wing extremist militia »Proud Boys« were found guilty of »seditious conspiracy«.

kfr/dpa/AFP