Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes told a federal court on Nov. 4 that the 2020 presidential election was invalid, spoke of his love for America, and his motivations for starting the Oath Keepers.
Rhodes, 57, is one of the defendants in the highest-profile trial related to the events of Jan. 6, 2021. On Nov. 4, he described himself as a patriotic quarter-Mexican born in Fresno, Calif., with both sides of the family serving in different military branches.
Although he wanted to join the Marines, Rhodes served in the Army doing special operations and became a weapons expert. He wa injured training in parachute jumping and was honorably discharged as a disabled veteran.
In a packed courtroom, under direct examination with his attorney, Rhodes summarized his life journey as talking to a friend. Rhodes looked relaxed, smiled, and made constant eye contact with the jurors, who listened attentively to his testimony. Some took notes.
Judge Amit Mehta, who usually keeps his body posture facing everyone in the courtroom, tilted his body to the right and watched Rhodes closely.
“Do you believe the [2020 presidential] election was stolen?” asked Rhodes’ defense attorney.
“I believe the election was unconstitutional,” Rhodes responded, explaining it was invalid since it didn’t comply with Article 2 of the Constitution. Under COVID-19 restrictions, he said, swing states changed their laws which made the election invalid.
Rhodes testified that he founded the Oath Keepers organization in 2009 to educate the military and law enforcement on distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate commands. He wanted people to be aware of their constitutional rights. His main concern was how authorities responded to natural disasters and how citizens were treated.
“We haven’t seen sufficient training,” Rhodes said.
He mentioned officers helping restrain George Floyd should have disregarded orders to restrain him.
Despite the recent label of the Oath Keepers organization as a racist white supremacist far-right group, Rhodes said the organization has members who are native Americans, Filipino Americans, African Americans, and others. He denied having any racist members. “We wouldn’t tolerate that,” he said.
After his discharge, Rhodes had various jobs: he parked cars at night and trained security guards during the day; he said he taught women and LGBT groups self-defense techniques.
Rhodes said that his organization puts the Constitution and the country above all. “The Constitution is for righteous people,” he added.
The suicide rate among former military members is high, he said. Many Oath Keepers, primarily elders, find their purpose in his organization since they desire to serve the country.
Rhodes recounted various times when he and other Oath Keepers provided security services, including for African Americans, and did volunteer work in different parts of the country. He said he against the heavy tactics used by law enforcement to restrain protestors. However, Rhodes added he doesn’t support violent rioters who destroy property and other goods.
The defense attorney asked Rhodes about why the Oath Keepers wear helmets and tactical vests. Rhodes said they use the gear for self-defense because rioters use weapons such as frozen water bottles, chains, knives, and clubs;
Rhodes told the court that he graduated from Yale Law School and received an award for his paper on the Bill of Rights.
“America is the best example of democracy because of our Constitution,” Rhodes said.
The U.S. government charged Rhodes, the three Oath Keepers on trial, and an affiliate with seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, conspiracy to prevent an officer from carrying out any duties, destruction of government property, civil disorder, and tampering with documents.
The prosecution has officially started to rest and won’t bring any new witnesses.
Rhodes will finish his direct testimony on Nov. 7 and will the face questions from prosecutors.
I agree every real American in this country needs to drag these scumbag communist New World Order demons out of every political office that they embedded their communist asses into if they think we’re going to forget or forgive the 2020 election they got a big mistake coming the more they tried to pick us off individually and silence us they’re going to wake up to Sleeping Giant and get what’s coming to them and what they’re going to get for what they did to that election and a duly elected president that we the people voted for and not a sick communist pedophile they put in buy a fraudulent coup to help destroy our country for their satanic New World Order agenda remember a one-to-one kill ratio will take care of millions of Antichrist corrupted domestic terrorist attackers when you’re dealing with billions of American constitutional Patriot citizens
THIS IS HOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION “REWARDS” A TRUE PATRIOT AND HERO!
As an American Conservative I find this Unconscionable to have happen to Good American Citizens and a thought comes they Follow their laws We Americans follow Our Laws and the Laws of God. No pun intended but our Laws Trump theirs
This man is being persecuted by an illegitimate corrupt administration for the “crime” of defending the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. In other words, honoring the oath that his persecutors ignore.
I read the article, exactly what is it he’s done that’s so dangerous to our country. Please state his charge’s he’s a military veteran the things he mentioned his organization stands for he should be honored. Is the government afraid of him for being more American?
The public has access to all those being persecuted for Jan. 6th. This link is for Rhodes, Elmer Stewart III https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/defendants/rhodes-elmer-stewart-iii
click on the case documents to see the charges against him. Hope this helps and you can see the full records of all cases here https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/capitol-breach-cases
God Bless America, stand firm.