US militia leader found guilty of sedition in Capitol attack | Abroad

The far-right militia Oath Keepers was founded in 2009 by Stuart Rhodes. The militia consists of current and former U.S. military, law enforcement, and first responders. They took an oath (“oath”) to protect, as they say, the US Constitution. The heavily armed militia often appears at protests and political events.

Prosecutors said the militia set up a “quick reaction force” at a nearby motel in Virginia on the day of the storm. This included firearms that could be quickly transported to Washington if the Oath Keepers were called.

A US House of Representatives committee is investigating the break-in at the Capitol. The committee wants to question former President Trump, but he did not show up for his questioning earlier this month. The committee is now considering how to deal with the fact that he is not cooperating despite the summons.

The storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 resulted in the deaths of five people, including a police officer. More than 140 other officers were injured. Damage to the Capitol reached millions of dollars. The rioters targeted former Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and others.