Bruce Tomaso, Jan Wolfe

PLANO, Texas (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Monday said she will rule within the next two days on whether Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right Oath Keepers, should remain in custody while he awaits trial on seditious conspiracy https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-built-textbook-case-sedition-charges-capitol-attack-legal-experts-2022-01-14 charges for his alleged role in the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

In Plano, Texas federal prosecutors demanded that Judge Kimberly Priest Johnson (U.S. Magistrate) keep Rhodes behind bars. Rhodes was dangerous and may try to escape the country during their two hour court hearing.

Kathryn Rakoczy, a Justice Department lawyer said that the man was charged with plotting to resist peaceful power transfer. It is difficult to see a society at greater risk.

Phillip Linder represented Rhodes as a lawyer. He said that Rhodes maintains his innocence, and does not pose any threat to him.

Linder declared, “He doesn’t just want a public hearing; he also wants a quick public hearing.”

She said that she will review the evidence and make a written decision.

A public indictment was made public this month, accusing Rhodes and 10 other associates of plotting to storm Capitol by force to prevent Congress from certificating President Joe Biden’s win in 2020.

Rhodes (56), is one of the more prominent defendants among 725 who have been charged with taking part in an attack on Trump’s Capitol. Trump’s fraudulent claims about his election loss being the result of fraud fuelled the riot.

Rhodes, along with his accomplices are first charged for seditious conspiracies in connection to their roles in the attack. This rarely-used accusation can result in a sentence up to 20 years imprisonment.

Prosecutors said that Rhodes told his supporters beginning in November 2020 to prepare to “oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power https://www.reuters.com/world/us/a-bloody-desperate-fight-us-prosecutors-release-oath-keepers-communications-2022-01-13.”

In a message, two days following election day, he stated that “We’re not getting through this without having a civil war.” “It’s too late to do that. Get your body and spirit ready.

On Monday, Brandon Straka was sentenced by a Washington judge to three years probation and three months in home detention.

Straka captured video during the Jan. 6, attack and encouraged others to grab a riot shield form a police officer, then push their way inside the Capitol Building.

U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich claimed that although Straka had at one stage about 500,000 Twitter followers (NYSE:), he did not attack anyone. However, he did “clearly break the law” and made statements that indicated the crowd was “appropriate, justified”.