Stewart Rhodes, the defense attorney representing Oath Keepers founder, stated Wednesday that members of the group charged with seditious conspiracies will ask for a postponement in their criminal trials. This was during the Jan. 6 committee hearings.
Rep Jamie Raskin, a member of the committee, confirmed to CBS News that the hearing on July 12 will be focused on domestic violent extremist groups and conspirators.
Phillip Linder, an attorney for Rhodes, requested a postponement in his Sept. and Nov. 2022 criminal trial. He cited the expected focus of the Oath Keepers.
Linder stated that the defendants had “agreed to temporarily waive their speedy trials rights.”
Linder stated that “We will continue filing continuances in the cases” until the Jan. 6, committee has complied with the Justice Department’s request for transcripts from all witnesses they have allegedly interrogated.”
The Justice Department submitted a June letter to DC federal court in which it acknowledged that it had requested copies of the transcripts from committee depositions but hadn’t received them yet.
The OathKeepers defendants are facing the most serious criminal conspiracy charges in connection to the U.S. Capitol Attack. They are accused of organizing plans, raising funds and stocking firearms prior to Jan. 6.
Oath Keepers is not the only high-profile defendant to ask for court delays citing the hearings of the January 6th Select Committee. Steve Bannon, a former Trump campaign adviser, is seeking to delay his contempt of Congress trial that is set to begin later in the month.
In a court filing, Bannon argued that hearings could prejudice potential jurors. In a court filing, Bannon’s lawyers stated that the Select Committee hearings had not only covered in general terms issues that jurors may have in mind when considering the charges in this case but also specifically referenced Mr. Bannon.”
According to the court filing, the “Select Committee and Democratic Party leadership” took steps to ensure that Jan. 6 hearings dominated the news cycle in days leading up to Mr. Bannon’s trial. They broadcast the hearings on every major network. This trial is being held in Washington, D.C., the same place where the events of January 6, 2021 occurred.
Bannon’s request to delay his trial was denied by the Justice Department. According to the prosecutors, Bannon is not interested in pretrial publicity. His repeated attempts to obtain it make it clear. He is only concerned with avoiding responsibility for his crime.
