The Justice Department appealed the sentences of seven members of the Oath Keepers for their part in the January 6th incident at the Capitol.
The move reveals that prosecutors are not happy with the severity of the jail time given by the federal judge in charge of the case, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama.
Those involved include Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who received the harshest sentence of any January 6th defendant. He received 18 years in prison for his role, which was portrayed as the mastermind of a nefarious criminal conspiracy to prevent the transfer of presidential power.
But the Justice Department apparently isn’t satisfied with that length of time, which is seven years shorter than prosecutors recommended.
It filed a series of appeals against the sentences of Rhodes’ codefendants, whose sentences also fell short of prosecutors’ recommendations.
They include: Florida Oath Keeper leader Kelly Meggs, who received a 12-year term, while the DOJ sought 21 years. Roberto Minuta of New York, sentenced to 4.5 years, far less than the DOJ-recommended 17 years. Joseph Hackett of Florida, who received a 3.5-year sentence versus the DOJ’s recommendation of 12 years. Ed Vallejo of Arizona received a 3-year sentence, the DOJ sought 17 years. And finally, David Moerschel of Florida was sentenced to three years, but the DOJ sought 10 years.
The DOJ is also appealing the conviction of two Oath Keeper members who were acquitted of seditious conspiracy but convicted of conspiring to obstruct Congress.
They are Jessica Watkins of Ohio, who was sentenced to 8.5 years in jail while the DOJ sought 18 years, and Kenneth Harrelson of Florida, who was sentenced to 4 years instead of the DOJ-recommended 15.
A DOJ spokesperson declined to comments on the appeals, which were filed with little additional information than what is required.
The department is expected to provide the full rationale for their appeal in the coming months through formal briefs.
The defendants will also likely file their own appeals against the convictions and sentences.
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The real mastermind of a nefarious criminal conspiracy was nasty pisslosi, and nobody else….
Oh, I’m pretty sure she had “help” planning that; Schiff, Schumer, et al, were likely involved too.
And that is the truth and nothing but the truth !!!!
They want longer time for J6 Oath Keepers
Biden, Garland and Wray are low life POS’s!! So is Jilly Bean and Hunter.
It’s ALL coming out! The American People are starting to see the truth. Of course much of it and many of the A$$HOLES will skate. But THIS NATION has been complacent for too long, and the BEAR has awakened from the TIK TOK, Nike, Bud Lite, Liberalist (Communist) BULLSH!T. Praise God! The revolution is beginning.
Increasing sentences are the Drunken demands of Pelosi and the Criminal Deep State et al who fear being exposed by the defrauded GOP and therefore want all Patriot leadership jailed even if only for attending a peaceful protest or running for election.