During cross-examination Monday at his trial on conspiracy charges, Oath Keepers leader Stuart Rhodes likened his militia group to patriots who fought in the American Revolution. “We’re in a situation similar to what the Founders found themselves in 1776,” Rhodes said when asked by federal prosecutors about the Oath Keepers’ role in the events surrounding the disputed 2020 presidential election and the protest led by then-President Donald Trump. . “We were ready to walk the path of the Founders.” Under questioning from his own defense attorney, Philip Linder, Rhodes testified that he believed the election results that declared Joe Biden the winner of the November 2020 election were “invalid.” He also denied ordering Oath Keeper members to join the Capitol Hill riot that sought to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power from Trump to Biden. “I never had any plan or intention to try to have my children prevent the election results from being certified,” Rhodes told the jury. During the cross-examination, Kathryn Rakocci, one of the federal prosecutors in the case, used text messages sent by Rhodes to undermine the defendant’s claims. In a Jan. 10, 2021 message from Rhodes, she argued that if Trump “wasn’t going to do the right thing,” meaning he would invoke the Sedition Act to prevent Biden from taking office, and “he’s just going to let himself be illegally taken away, then we should have brought rifles” to the Capitol. Rakoczy cited a statement Rhodes published online on November 9, 2020, less than a week after the election. “We are exactly where the Founding Fathers were in March 1775 … and Patrick Henry was right,” the statement said. “There is nothing left but to fight. And that goes for us too. We won’t get out of this without a fight. There will be a fight. But let’s do it smart, and let’s do it while President Trump is still Commander in Chief.” The story continues Weeks later, on December 29, Rhodes wrote a message to Kellye SoRelle, Oath Keeper’s attorney and close friend. “I will turn my attention to what I need to do as the founder and leader of Oath Keepers to prepare for what comes after Trump’s failure to do his duty,” Rakoczy wrote in the message shown to the jury. “But most of my focus will be on assuming he won’t. And prepare for the worst.” Rhodes with Oath Keepers volunteers. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters) Two days later, Rhodes issued another assessment that prosecutors say helped set the stage for the rebellion on Capitol Hill. “At 6 o’clock they will put the final nail in the coffin of this Republic, unless we fight to leave. With Trump (Preferably) or without,” Rhodes wrote. Witnesses and investigators have described how members of the Oath Keepers joined the riot at the Capitol, forming a “stack” formation on the east side of the building and pushing them inside. But Rhodes was not among the group that entered the Capitol. “I think it was stupid to go into the Capitol. It was not our mission. If they asked me, I would [would have] he said, “Don’t,” Rhodes testified Monday. Prosecutors presented a message found on a phone believed to belong to SoRelle that they said was sent by Rhodes to the group on January 8. “Stop the chatter and listen. THIS IS STUART. SO YOU SEE THIS MESSAGE? DO NOT chat about OK [Oath Keepers] members allegedly doing anything in the capitol Go dark on that,” the message said. “Don’t talk… Let me put it to the infantry to do the talking. SHUT THE F*** UP!” Under questioning by Rakoczy, Rhodes acknowledged that he was financially dependent on funds given to the Oath Keepers by donors and that he used an Oath Keepers credit card to pay for travel, weapons and food. When asked directly if he regularly used the credit card for personal expenses, Rhodes replied, “I wouldn’t say that.” Rhodes admitted, however, that some Oath Keepers members had raised questions about the group’s use of funds and that at least one board member had resigned over Rhodes’ spending. Three other Oath Keepers have already pleaded guilty to rioting conspiracy charges, and another major trial of the group’s members is scheduled to begin in December.
