Justice Department Threatens Oath Keepers with Life in Prison

"The United States takes the position that the most analogous offense to seditious conspiracy is ‘Treason,’" warns federal prosecutor Kathyrn Rakoczy. 

 

By Julie Kelly May 7, 2022

In a letter obtained by American Greatness, the U.S. Department of Justice is threatening defendants charged with seditious conspiracy in the sprawling Oath Keepers case to accept plea deals or face life in prison.

Matthew Graves, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia handling every prosecution related to the events of January 6, 2021, imposed a May 6 deadline for the remaining defendants to accept plea deals. Three men have pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy; nine others, including Oath Keepers’ founder Stewart Rhodes, have rejected government attempts to reach a plea.

“We write to advise you of applicable penalties that could apply upon conviction at trial,” Graves’ chief prosecutor in the case, Kathyrn Rakoczy, wrote to defense attorneys in a letter dated May 2. (Every January 6 defendant who has faced a jury trial in Washington, D.C. has been found guilty on all charges by jurors following brief deliberations.) After detailing the hefty prison sentences and fines associated with other offenses charged in the case, Rakoczy turned to the potential sentence for seditious conspiracy, a crime so rare that federal sentencing guidelines don’t cover it. “The United States takes the position that the most analogous offense to seditious conspiracy is ‘Treason,’” Rakoczy wrote. If a jury concludes the conspiracy involved conduct “that is tantamount to waging war against the United States,” Rakoczy explained, the government could seek a life sentence upon conviction...........

The Oath Keepers are not accused of carrying or using any weapons on January 6; none is charged with directly vandalizing government property. Two “stacks” of Oath Keepers entered the building after the joint session of Congress recessed that afternoon and walked through open doors with police nearby.

Rakoczy further threatened defendants with a terrorism enhancement for any guilty verdict. (Each also faces obstruction of an official proceeding and other felony counts.) The enhancement could result in a maximum sentence of 22 years per offense.  As Graves’ office strongarms Oath Keepers to accept plea deals, his prosecutors just admitted in court that the government still has not met all its discovery obligations in the complex case. .......To Read More...

My Take -  How anyone can doubt this is judicial and prosecutorial corruption and tyranny is beyond me.  Compare this with Xi's tyrannical actions in China from Geopolitical Futures.  Obey or else.  Tell me how this is different.

May 6, 2022 On May 5, the Chinese Communist Party's CCP's top leadership body- the Politburo Standing Committee met to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and the government's epidemic-prevention policies as mass lockdowns continue in major urban centers including Shanghai. President Xi Jinping issued a sharp warning against anyone who questions the CCP's restrictive approach. 

It is important to unswervingly adhere to the dynamic zero-COVID policy and resolutely fight any attempts to distort, question, or dismiss China's anti-COVID policy, he warned other top leaders. The meeting called on all party committees, governments, and broader society to continue to abide by the government's policies and to promote the spirit of struggle to build a strong defense against the ongoing pandemic. 

In addition, the committee discussed how relaxing virus prevention and control measures would result in widespread infections, serious illness and death, as well as negatively impact the economy. Practice has proven that our epidemic control strategy is decided by the Party's nature and mission, and that our policies can stand the test of time, and that our measures are science-based and effective” said the meeting readout.  
 
According to China watchers, such a strong warning likely means there has been internal party pushback against the zero-COVID approach, which does not bode well for Xi, who is expected to secure a third term at the 20^th National Party Congress this fall. 

A political analyst in Beijing, Wu Qiang, also noted that Xi has put his personal stamp on the country's COVID prevention policy. The policy has become an unquestionable, unchallengeable policy that is closely tied to his political authority and therefore there will be no flexibility when it comes to implementation, he said. 

Hours after the meeting, Shanghai's Party Leadership convened to discuss the current situation in the city, which has experienced shortages of essential supplies and public anger with epidemic prevention policies during an extended lockdown, which began in late March. Chaired by Shanghai Party Chief Li Qiang, the committee vowed to implement Xi's prevention policy and devise more detailed working plans to do so. The response shows that Xi's warning resonated in Shanghai, but many citizens in Beijing now fear the city will adopt the Shanghai-style lockdown as cases continue to rise.