Stuart Rhodes Visits Capitol Hill After Presidential Clemency
In a surprising development on Capitol Hill, Stuart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, appeared publicly just one day after being released from prison. This release was a result of a broad clemency initiative by President Donald Trump, which affected nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Rhodes, convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in orchestrating the attack, was seen conversing with lawmakers and defending his actions. Despite his conviction, Rhodes expressed no remorse, stating, “I didn’t lead anything. So why should I feel responsible for that?”
The timing of Rhodes’ visit coincided with House Speaker Mike Johnson’s revival of a special committee aimed at defending Trump’s actions on January 6 and challenging the findings of a previous bipartisan investigation. Johnson declined to question Trump’s decision to pardon those involved in the riot, commenting, “we believe in redemption, we believe in second chances.”
During his visit to the Capitol complex, Rhodes, sporting a Trump 2020 hat, advocated for the release of another defendant and indicated his intention to seek a full pardon from Trump. “I think all of us should be pardoned,” Rhodes declared, expressing his desire to meet with the president in the future.
Judicial reactions to Trump’s clemency orders were mixed. Judges dismissed numerous ongoing cases, with some expressing their dismay. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly emphasized that the factual record of the January 6 events remains unchanged, regardless of political narratives. Similarly, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan remarked on the lasting impact of the riot, highlighting the valor of law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol.
Meanwhile, at a federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., judges expressed their concerns over the pardons. District Judge Carl Nichols described the blanket pardons as “beyond frustrating and disappointing.” District Judge Amit Mehta shared his apprehension about the implications of Rhodes’ clemency, describing it as “frightening.”
On Capitol Hill, Rhodes’ presence sparked reactions from lawmakers, with some questioning his potential threat to public safety and constitutional democracy. Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. Pete Aguilar voiced their concerns, while at a news conference, police officers who had defended the Capitol expressed their continued determination to speak out against the events of January 6.
As the legal landscape shifts with the mass pardons, the records of the January 6 prosecutions stand as a testament to the historical events, serving both as a warning and a reminder of the fragility of democratic institutions.
