Oath Keepers leader, 10 others charged in seditious plot to breach U.S. Capitol during January 6 insurrection

The founder of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, spoke at a rally outside the White House.

The leader of the Oath Keepers militia, Stewart Rhodes, and 10 other people were charged with seditious conspiracy and other crimes for their alleged roles in the Capitol riot.

According to the indictment, after the November 2020 presidential election, Rhodes and others plotted to take control of the Capitol and force the transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden.

The conspiracy involved the distribution of firearms on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. and the support of the effort to keep Trump in office.

Federal authorities obtained access to the Signal app, which allowed them to view the messages.

Rhodes was arrested early Thursday afternoon.

A mob of Trump supporters went to the U.S. Capitol in January of 2020 to disrupt a session of Congress to confirm the election of Biden.

A lawyer for Rhodes didn't respond to a request for comment.

Edward Vallejo, 63, of Phoenix, Arizona, was arrested Thursday morning in that city, authorities said.

Rhodes and Vallejo had not been charged before with the riot.

Nine people who had been charged in connection with the riot were indicted Thursday.

They are: Thomas Caldwell, 67, of Berryville, Virginia; Joseph Hackett, 51, of Sarasota, Florida; Kenneth Harrelson, 41, of Titusville, Florida; Joshua James, 34, of Arab, Alabama; and Roberto Min, 52, of Dunnellon, Florida.

The maximum sentence for seditious conspiracy is 20 years in prison.

An indictment states that Rhodes and certain co-conspirators planned to stop the transfer of presidential power by January 20, 2021, which included multiple ways to deploy force.

They traveled across the country to enter Washington, D.C., equipped with a variety of weapons, donned combat and technical gear, and were prepared to answer Rhodes's call to take up arms at his direction, according to the indictment.

Some co-conspirators amassed firearms on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., distributed them among their Quick Reaction Force teams, and planned to use the firearms to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power.

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