Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, made a surprising appearance on Capitol Hill just a day after being released from prison as part of President Donald Trump's clemency order. Rhodes, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, met with lawmakers and defended his actions during the violent siege that disrupted the certification of the 2020 election.
During his visit, Rhodes wore a Trump 2020 hat and advocated for the release of another defendant while expressing his desire for a full pardon from the president. He denied leading the assault and distanced himself from the actions of his followers, stating that it was 'stupid' for them to enter the Capitol building.
