Oath Keepers Trial: 'Armed Rebellion' Plan, Prosecutor Says

Stewart Rhodes and others are on trial after being charged with seditious conspiracy in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group and four associates planned for an "armed rebellion" to stop the transfer of presidential power on Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutors told jurors Monday at the opening of the most serious case to reach trial yet in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler delivered his opening statement in Washington's federal court in the trial of Stewart Rhodes and others charged with seditious conspiracy. They are accused of a weekslong plot to stop the transfer of power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden.

"Their goal was to stop by whatever means necessary the lawful transfer of presidential power, including by taking up arms against the United States government," he said. "They concocted a plan for armed rebellion to shatter a bedrock of American democracy."