Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes Appears at Trump’s Las Vegas Rally After Prison Release.
Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers, made a notable appearance at President Donald Trump’s rally in Las Vegas this past Saturday, just days after being released from prison. Rhodes, whose 18-year sentence for his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack was commuted earlier this week, was among the crowd of Trump supporters standing behind the president as he delivered his remarks at Circa Resort and Casino.
The rally saw Trump reflecting on his first week in office and making promises to introduce legislation aimed at removing taxes on tips. Reuters photos captured Rhodes in the audience, highlighting his high-profile return to the political stage following his release.
In 2022, Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his involvement in the January 6 attack, where supporters of Trump attempted to prevent the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. His sentence of 18 years was the second-longest handed out to any defendant involved in the insurrection. Prior to his release, Rhodes had been serving his sentence at a federal facility in Cumberland, Maryland.
Rhodes was one of more than 1,500 people granted clemency by Trump during his first day in office on Monday. The former president also commuted the sentences of Rhodes and 13 others, all of whom were either affiliated with the Oath Keepers or the Proud Boys, two prominent far-right extremist groups that were involved in the Capitol attack.
Trump has repeatedly defended his use of executive clemency, arguing that those convicted for their involvement in the insurrection have been treated unjustly by the justice system. He has compared their sentences to those of "murderers," asserting that they were too harsh. "I thought their sentences were ridiculous and excessive," Trump said in an interview this week, referring specifically to the leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.
On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta issued a directive requiring Rhodes to stay away from the Capitol now that he has been released from prison. However, Trump’s Justice Department has contested this ruling, asserting that the judge did not have the authority to impose such a restriction.
