Judge Amit Mehta Vacates January 6 Oath Keepers Convictions

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta granted a request from the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday to dismiss cases against members of the right-wing Oath Keepers militia, including founder Stewart Rhodes. The defendants had been convicted of seditious conspiracy for plotting to obstruct the transfer of power during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The legal move vacates the convictions following an order by President Donald Trump to drop all pending January 6 cases at the start of his second term. While the defendants had previously been released through presidential pardons or commutations, this court action formally removes the convictions from their records. The Justice Department has also sought to vacate convictions for members of the Proud Boys.

Judge Mehta expressed strong disagreement with the decision, stating that the outcome "diminishes the gravity of that day" and excuses criminal acts that caused a pillar of American democracy to buckle. Despite his objections, he concluded that the prosecution possessed the legal authority to drop the cases.