The Oath Keepers founder lost his eye after accidentally shooting himself with a loaded handgun
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol Hills riots, and many netizens are wondering how the group’s leader lost his eye.
The far-right leader was sentenced on Thursday 25 May. A second member of the Oath Keepers, named Kelly Meggs, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Over the past two years, Stewart Rhodes has become a well-known figure in US politics, largely due to his connection to the January 6 riots. Several police officers died in the Capitol Hill incident.
Judge Amit Mehta announced the Oath Keepers member’s conviction, saying that Stewart showed no remorse throughout the trial. The judge also said he continued to pose a threat.
When news of the conviction broke, many netizens began to wonder about the Oath Keepers leader’s eye. Stewart always wears a black eye patch over his left eye.
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How did Stewart Rhodes lose his eye?
According to the Daily Mail, The Atlantic reported Stewart lost his eye in 1993 after dropping a loaded pistol that shot him in the face.
The incident prompted Stewart to enroll in community college at the age of 28. In 2009 he founded the right-wing extremist organization Oath Keepers.
Reuters reports that the militant group consists active and retired US military personnel. There are also police officers and first responders.
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Insights into the early years of the Oath Keeper founder
According to the Los Angeles Times, Stewart was involved long before his far-right organization was formed a graduate of Yale Law School. He also got a job as clerk at the Arizona Supreme Court. However, he didn’t last long in his job.
Before studying law, the now 57-year-old served in the army for three years. Right out of high school he joined the armed forces. However, his time as a paratrooper was cut short after he broke his back in a skydiving accident.
After retiring from the military, Stewart took a job as a valet in Las Vegas. He then attended the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and then Yale.
Stewart Rhodes sentenced to 18 years in prison
Stewart’s sentence is the longest of any January 6 defendant.
CBS Remarks that the leader of the far-right group referred to himself as a “political prisoner” in the courtroom before his sentencing.
Announcing his conviction, Judge Amit Mehta said, “You, sir, pose a constant threat and danger to this country, the republic and the very fabric of this democracy.”
The judge went on to find that Stewart was guilty of seditious conspiracy “not because of your beliefs, not because you supported the other, not because Joe Biden is currently President,” but because of the facts of the case and his previous actions. during and after January 6.”
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