(Washington) Six members of the far-right U.S. militia Oath Keepers were found guilty on Monday, according to U.S. media, of various charges in connection with the assault on the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump on 6 January 2021.
In this third trial involving the Oath Keepers, considered crucial in the planning of the attack, four were found guilty of conspiring to disrupt the work of Congress, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Two were convicted of lesser charges.
The six were convicted of entering a building or its compound without permission or remaining there.
Since the January 6, 2021 attack, more than 950 supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump have been arrested and charged with causing havoc in the seat of American democracy.
Of these, only 14 far-right splinter activists – nine members of the Oath Keepers and five Proud Boys – have been charged with “sedition”, a count punishable by 20 years in prison which involves planning the use of force to oppose the government.
A first trial ended in late November with a mixed verdict: Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and a local official were convicted of sedition, but their three co-defendants were acquitted on that count.