A federal judge sentenced two members of the Oath Keepers militia to less than four years in prison for seditious conspiracy on Friday, placing a brake on the government’s effort to impose lengthy terms on members of the group for roles in the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
The two men, David Moerschel and Joseph Hackett, who traveled from Florida to join the Oath Keepers in Washington on Jan. 6, received terms of three years and three and a half years, respectively.
Judge Amit P. Mehta, who has presided over three separate Oath Keepers trials that all have now concluded, diverged from federal guidelines in his decisions in Federal District Court in Washington this week.
The judge veered toward leniency with members lower in the Oath Keepers’ hierarchy.
Two others convicted of seditious conspiracy were sentenced this week to no more than four and a half years in prison.
Persons:
David Moerschel, Joseph Hackett, Amit P, Mehta, Prosecutors, Moerschel, Hackett, Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs
Organizations:
Court, Mr
Locations:
Florida, Washington