Stewart Rhodes, the former leader of the Oath Keepers, has been released early from prison following a controversial decision to grant blanket pardons or commutations by former President Donald Trump. Rhodes was serving an 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy, convicted of plotting the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This breach aimed to overturn the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. Despite his release, a federal judge has barred Rhodes and other defendants from entering Washington DC and the U.S. Capitol without court permission.
In 2023, Rhodes received an 18-year prison sentence after being found guilty of conspiring to disrupt the peaceful transfer of presidential power. The insurrection saw lawmakers fleeing as rioters stormed the Capitol, halting the certification process temporarily. This incident spurred a massive federal criminal investigation, leading to numerous arrests and convictions, including those of Rhodes and his associates.
On Friday, a federal judge issued an order prohibiting Rhodes and seven other defendants involved in the January 6 events from entering Washington DC. Kelly Meggs, another key figure in the insurrection and leader of the Oath Keepers' Florida chapter, was also named in the order. Meggs is currently serving a 12-year prison term. He was noted for leading insurrectionists into the Capitol using a "stack" formation, a tactic that demonstrated military precision.
The blanket pardons or commutations extended by Trump affected approximately 1,500 individuals, stirring debate over its implications on justice and public safety. With Trump having been sworn in as the 47th president last Monday, these actions have sparked further discussions on his administration's stance regarding those involved in the Capitol riot.