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In a big Jan. 6 case, Oath Keepers go on trial for seditious conspiracy
NPR Online NewsDec 24, 2022
The Facts
The seditious conspiracy trial of Stewart Rhodes, founder of the right-wing Oath Keepers militia, began on Tuesday in what's described as the US Dept. of Justice's highest-profile case related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
Rhodes and his co-defendants — Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell — are accused of plotting to obstruct Congress' certification of the 2020 election and coordinating the riot. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
After its thorough investigation into the role played by the Oath Keepers on Jan. 6, the federal government is now set to show the world how far these extremists went to prevent Biden's inauguration and keep Trump in office. Federal prosecutors have collected tremendous amounts of evidence, from subpoenas and surveillance footage, that will prove these weren't protesters but violent insurgents attempting to conduct a military-style coup.
Republican narrative
Beyond the obvious political nature of these Jan. 6 indictments, what's most troubling about the Dept. of Justice is its refusal to allow any cross-examinations by the defense that could potentially detail the role played by FBI informants on the day of the riot. This is a clear denial of both the defendants' rights and the duties of their attorneys to present the best case possible to the jury.
