Who Is Stewart Rhodes?
Stewart Rhodes is the founder of the Oath Keepers, a far-right anti-government militia group. He is a former U.S. Army paratrooper and Yale Law School graduate who created the organization in 2009 to encourage military and law enforcement members to refuse certain orders.
Oath Keepers and Legal Cases
Rhodes and other Oath Keepers members have been involved in high-profile legal proceedings. In 2022, Rhodes and ten others were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Sentencing followed in 2023.
Key Facts and Context
The Oath Keepers describe themselves as a patriotic organization opposing unconstitutional orders. Federal prosecutors have characterized the group as a paramilitary organization that trained and planned actions around the Capitol breach. Rhodes has publicly promoted the group's activities through speeches and publications.
Department of Justice press release on the Oath Keepers conviction
