(Washington) Six members of the far-right American militia Oath Keepers were found guilty on Monday, according to American media, of various charges in connection with the attack launched against the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump on 6 January 2021.
In this third trial around 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 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 attack on January 6, 2021, more than 950 supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump have been arrested and charged with sowing chaos in the seat of American democracy.
Among them, only 14 activists from far-right groups – nine members of the Oath Keepers and five Proud Boys – have been charged with “sedition”, a leader liable to 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: the founder of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, and a local official were found guilty of sedition, but their three co-defendants were acquitted on this count.