Staff Reports
Stewart Rhodes, the mastermind behind the Oath Keepers, is spending his days behind bars dreaming of a legal battle against the very Justice Department that locked him up. The commander of the Oath Keepers, a group formed by former law enforcement and military personnel with a mission to uphold the Constitution, has become a poster child for what many view as a politically motivated crackdown following the January 6 events. Rhodes is serving an 18-year sentence for charges that include seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, and the oh-so-vague “destruction of evidence.” It’s enough to make even the most seasoned constitutional conservative shake their head at the travesty of justice.
Now, with President Trump’s promise of potential pardons hanging in the air like a tempting slice of apple pie, Rhodes is carefully plotting his next legal moves. He is taking a “one step at a time” approach, which in the world of legalese often translates to “I’ve got some serious plans up my sleeve.” According to Rhodes, a Yale Law School graduate to boot, if he is forgiven, he may just take a swing at the Justice Department for a violation of civil rights—citing “false imprisonment” as a key part of his case. One can’t help but chuckle at the irony; here is a man who pledges to protect constitutional rights now finding himself in a position where he feels they’ve been trampled.
More on DOJ/courts refusal to produce documents/evidence related to FBI informants for Jan 6
This is DC US Attorney Matthew Graves in a Nov 22 brief opposing J6er motion for Brady (exculpatory) material
Sadly, in nearly every instance, DC judges agree pic.twitter.com/PpsT6PTcfk
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) December 16, 2024
In a somewhat melodramatic twist, Rhodes lamented over losing his veterans benefits. After a parachuting accident left him disabled, the VA decided to inform him that he would also lose access to a veterans cemetery. This “horrific insult” is presented as additional proof of the “next-level harm” inflicted by those he believes are now using him as a political pawn. The “conspiracy,” as Rhodes sees it, isn’t just a few angry Democrats; it’s a coordinated campaign to silence those who dare to stand against the establishment.
Speaking of his legal woes, Rhodes accused Democratic party members, specifically Rep. Bennie Thompson, of orchestrating his downfall. Thompson’s well-known civil lawsuit against Trump and others, alleging their involvement in the January 6 riot, is viewed by Rhodes as the foundation of a manufactured narrative designed to paint Trump supporters as insurrectionists. In his prison musings, Rhodes argues that these allegations amount to a complete mischaracterization of events, which many conservatives have echoed since the chaos unfolded at the Capitol.
While Rhodes channels his inner courtroom drama, certain allies in Congress have been doing their part to expose the shenanigans surrounding the January 6 committee. The House Republicans’ investigation, which dove into the dubious claims made during televised hearings, has accused Liz Cheney—once a rising star in the GOP—of witness tampering. Curious minds might wonder how these political dramas will pan out, especially when one considers Rhodes’ cheeky offer to serve as a special prosecutor himself if he’s granted the chance. If Rhodes’ legal strategy is anything like his resilience, he may just have a bigger role to play in the ongoing saga of one of America’s most controversial political climates.
