January 1, Oath Keepers Leader Pleads Not Guilty

The founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers group, Stewart Rhodes, pleaded not guilty to charges of seditious conspiracy for his alleged role in the January 6 Capitol riot.

Rhodes entered his plea in a federal courtroom in Plano, Texas. A prosecutor said at the hearing that the Justice Department would request that Rhodes be detained while awaiting trial.

“He believes he will be found not guilty,” said James Lee Bright, a lawyer for Rhodes, adding that he will oppose the request for pretrial detention. “He has no reason to flee. He has no passport. He has nowhere to go.”

Another Oath Keepers member, Edward Vallejo, appeared in court to face sedition charges.

Vallejo didn’t enter a plea in the Phoenix courtroom, but his lawyer indicated he plans to enter a not guilty plea at a future hearing.

The Justice Department charged Rhodes, Vallejo, and nine other members or associates of the Oath Keepers with seditious conspiracy.

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Oath Keepers founder pleads not guilty to sedition in U.S. Capitol attack