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Diversity Makes Greatness
USA TODAY
Oath Keepers trial: What we know about the militia members who aren't Stewart Rhodes
"A bar owner. A car dealership general manager. A welder. And a retired military intelligence officer.
All members or affiliates of the Oath Keepers — and all followers of the group's notorious leader, Stewart Rhodes.
Memorable for his role as founder of the right-wing militia group, Yale law education and signature eye-patch, Rhodes has long captivated the public eye. His four co-defendants are less well-known but also on trial for similarly insurrectionist activities.
Jessica Watkins, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson and Thomas Caldwell are facing trial this month alongside Rhodes on numerous federal charges, including a rare seditious conspiracy charge, for their alleged roles in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack as Oath Keepers.
In the first two weeks of the trial, prosecutors painted the defendants as embattled extremists, bitter over the 2020 election outcome and willing to resort to violence to ensure former President Donald Trump remained installed.
Inversely, defense attorneys for the Oath Keepers on trial set out to humanize them for the jury, pointing to age-related ailments, social media aversion and gender identity as evidence they're not as dangerous or calculating as the government makes them out to be.
Here's what we know about the Oath Keepers on trial who aren't Stewart Rhodes."
Disgruntled people who do not believe in democracy. People who think they should be entitled to force their way upon others and claim they are 'saving America.'
Instead, they trashed America in the worldwide image.