The criminal trial of Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers right-wing militia group, and four associates over their roles in the attack on the US Capitol was delayed on Monday after he tested positive for Covid-19.
Mr Rhodes and his co-defendants — Jessica Watkins, Thomas Caldwell, Kenneth Harrelson and Kelly Meggs — are charged with seditious conspiracy, a rarely prosecuted crime defined as attempting “to overthrow, put down or to destroy by force the government of the United States”.
Mr Rhodes remains in “total isolation” in jail, his lawyers said. US District Judge Amit Mehta asked the parties to return on Tuesday morning to discuss how to proceed with the trial, which began last month.
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Oath Keepers militia founder Stewart Rhodes in Eureka, Montana. Reuters -
The founder of the far-right group Oath Keepers and 10 others were indicted for seditious conspiracy in the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol. AFP -
Henry Tarrio of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers' founder Rhodes met in a car park on the evening before their groups attacked the US Capitol. Saboteur Media / Reuters -
Members of the Oath Keepers militia group occupy the steps of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Reuters -
Members of the Oath Keepers at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. AP -
Rhodes uses a radio as he departs with volunteers from a rally held by former president Donald Trump in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Reuters -
Rhodes speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington in June 2017. AP -
Rhodes appears in a detention hearing by a federal court to face seditious conspiracy charges relating to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Reuters -
The interim president of the Oath Keepers, Kelly SoRelle, speaks after Rhodes was taken to a federal court to face seditious conspiracy charges. Reuters -
Rhodes and other members cheer as they listen to Donald Trump Jr address a rally in El Paso, Texas, in February 2019. AFP -
A man in an Oath Keepers shirt stands outside the Kenosha County Courthouse in Wisconsin, the day Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges after pleading self-defence in the Kenosha shootings. AP -
The criminal complaint with the arrest warrant for Oath Keeper member James Beeks. AP -
Alaska state representative David Eastman admitted to being a member of the Oath Keepers militia. AP
Members of the Oath Keepers were among the supporters of Republican then-president Donald Trump who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attacked police and sent members of Congress scrambling for their safety in a failed effort to prevent lawmakers from certifying his 2020 US election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Prosecutors have said the Oath Keepers planned a “quick reaction force” of armed members who waited at a hotel in northern Virginia with firearms they could transport across the Potomac River into Washington if called upon. Defence attorneys have said that the defendants travelled to Washington to provide security for speakers at pro-Trump rallies and maintained that they had no plot to take the Capitol by force.
A juror in the case was excused last week after testing positive for Covid-19. Although officials have lifted a previous mandate to wear a face mask inside the federal courthouse in Washington, Mr Mehta has required those inside his courtroom to continue wearing one unless speaking during the trial.
Defence attorney Edward Tarpley said he has been unable to confer with Rhodes because the defendant remains isolated and cannot accept phone calls.
Defence lawyers said they intend to ask Mr Rhodes if he would potentially agree to appear virtually or waive his appearance while the prosecution questions several “inconsequential witnesses”. It remained unclear if the jail could make such an accommodation or if Mr Mehta would be willing to allow it.
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Supporters of former US president Donald Trump and America First ideology participate in Stop the Steal and Million Maga (Make America Great Again) March protests after the 2020 presidential election was called for Joe Biden. Reuters -
A woman wears a jacket reading 'Maga King' at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas. Reuters -
A new take on the red Maga hat seen at CPAC in Dallas. Reuters -
Mr Trump tosses Maga hats to the crowd as he arrives for a Save America rally at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio. EPA -
Maga Mall president Ronald Solomon sells merchandise at CPAC. Reuters -
A liberal voter in Georgia said that Trump supporters have made it impossible to ever wear a red hat again. Reuters -
A Trump supporter sells merchandise during the Save America rally at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Conroe, Texas. Getty Images / AFP -
During the 2016 presidential election, it was found that a large portion of Maga merchandise was made in China. Getty Images / AFP -
Texans at the Save America rally earlier this year. Getty Images / AFP -
Despite no evidence of fraud and Joe Biden's certification by Congress, Maga supporters still insist that Mr Trump won the 2020 presidential election. Reuters -
Maga supporters in Scottsdale, Arizona, kit out their dogs. Reuters -
People cheer at a Maga rally in Sarasota, Florida. Getty Images / AFP -
The Republican Party of Florida co-sponsored this Maga rally last year. Getty Images / AFP -
A woman wears a red Maga hat in Sarasota. Getty Images / AFP -
For some, Maga isn't just a movement, it is a way of life. Getty Images / AFP -
A Maga supporter speaks during a rally. Getty Images / AFP -
A Trump supporters in Sarasota shows his Maga pride. Getty Images / AFP
