A federal judge has ruled that Stewart Rhodes, founder and leader of the Oath Keepers, will stay behind bars for the time being. On Friday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said during a hearing that allowing Rhodes to spend the next several months under house arrest was too risky...
Jacob Vaughn
On Friday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said during a hearing that allowing Rhodes to spend the next several months under house arrest was too risky. “His ability to communicate and organize are his greatest weapons,” said Mehta, adding that the government could not be certain that Rhodes would not somehow access an internet connection or encrypted messaging apps while under house arrest.
The accusations stem from his alleged role as a key orchestrator of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot last year, during which supporters of former President Donald Trump, QAnon conspiracy theorists and hardline right-wing militiamen stormed the Capitol building while Congress was ratifying the results of the 2020 election, which Donald Trump lost.
But Mehta said Friday that Rhodes was “still dangerous” and would pose an immediate threat to his community if released.