On Tuesday, a federal jury in Washington found Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and another member of the far-right organization, Kelly Meggs, guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
On that charge, Rhodes and Meggs face up to 20 years in prison.
They were convicted, along with the other three defendants - Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell - of obstructing an official proceeding, which carries a maximum term of 20 years.
The defendants were convicted on many counts, and the judge might sentence them to more than 20 years in prison. In contrast, the judge may opt to sentence offenders to significantly less than the maximum permitted.
Sentencing hearings are usually held 90 days after a verdict is obtained.
Four of the defendants, including Rhodes, will continue to be imprisoned, according to Judge Amit Mehta in court. Caldwell was the only defendant who had been released pending trial.
The Justice Department's extensive inquiry into the attack on the U.S. Capitol has produced a number of significant cases, the most serious of which being the seditious conspiracy case. The two seditious conspiracy convictions were victories for the department, which had filed the extremely rare charges against several Oath Keepers.
Attorney General Merrick Garland praised prosecutors and federal agents for their efforts, saying in a statement that the Justice Department "is committed to holding accountable those criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy on Jan. 6, 2021."
The two defendants, Rhodes and Meggs, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy, were responsible for some of the most obscene rhetoric the government used during the trial's nearly two-month duration.
In the government's evidence, both men expressed a desire to harm House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and had a special dislike for her.
Meggs, Harrelson, and Watkins, the three defendants who entered the Capitol building on January 6, were all convicted guilty of conspiring to obstruct an officer from performing their official responsibilities. While on Capitol grounds that day, Rhodes and Caldwell chose not to enter the building.
Watkins was also convicted of civil disorder and aiding and abetting because, as she testified on the witness, she assisted in pushing at authorities within the Capitol.
Caldwell was also charged with tampering with papers or proceedings, as well as aiding and abetting.
The Justice Department has charged about 900 persons in connection with the Capitol attack and is requesting additional money for the probe from Congress. Hundreds of new cases are ongoing.
