Federal Prosecutors Move to Vacate Seditious Conspiracy Convictions of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys

The decision comes after former President Trump pardoned and commuted sentences of January 6 rioters

Apr. 16, 2026 at 4:18am

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A photorealistic painting of an American flag hanging from a flagpole, the fabric draped and weathered, the pole casting long shadows across a dimly lit urban setting, evoking a sense of melancholy and the fragility of democratic institutions.The faded American flag, once a symbol of unity, now hangs heavy with the weight of a divided nation struggling to reconcile its democratic ideals with the lingering influence of Confederate ideology.Oklahoma City Today

In a surprising move, federal prosecutors have filed a motion to dismiss the seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes and other leaders of the far-right militia group, as well as members of the Proud Boys, for their roles in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The decision comes after former President Donald Trump issued sweeping pardons and sentence commutations for participants in the insurrection attempt.

Why it matters

The reversal of these high-profile convictions raises concerns about accountability for the assault on American democracy and the lasting influence of Confederate ideology that has persisted since the Civil War. It also highlights the ongoing political divisions and the ability of former leaders to wield power even after leaving office.

The details

In November 2022, a federal jury convicted Rhodes and at least a dozen other Oath Keepers of seditious conspiracy for using force and violence in a failed attempt to stop the democratic transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election. However, after Trump retook office in 2025, he issued pardons and commuted sentences for many of the January 6 rioters, including the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys leaders. While Trump did not pardon the group's leaders, the move to vacate their convictions suggests the Department of Justice now believes the prosecutions were not in the 'interests of justice'.

  • On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C.
  • On January 6, 2021, the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, and other far-right groups attacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
  • In November 2022, a federal jury convicted Oath Keepers founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes and others of seditious conspiracy.
  • In 2025, former President Donald Trump issued pardons and commuted sentences for many January 6 rioters.
  • On April 14, 2026, federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the seditious conspiracy convictions of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys leaders.

The players

Elmer Stewart Rhodes

The founder of the right-wing Oath Keepers militia group, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who issued pardons and commuted sentences for many participants in the January 6 insurrection attempt after retaking office in 2025.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th President of the United States, who was assassinated at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865.

Walt Whitman

The renowned American poet who wrote about the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination and the dashed hopes for a democratic future.

Timothy McVeigh

A former U.S. Army gunner who carried out the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, killing 168 people, and wore a t-shirt with the Confederate slogan 'Sic Semper Tyrannis' when captured.

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What they’re saying

“The United States has determined in its prosecutorial discretion that dismissal of this criminal case is in the interests of justice.”

— Daniel Lenerz, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C.

“Now he belongs to the ages.”

— Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War

“When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd, And the great star early droop'd in the western sky in the night, I mourn'd, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.”

— Walt Whitman

What’s next

The dismissal of the seditious conspiracy convictions is expected to be challenged by legal experts and civil rights advocates, who argue it undermines accountability for the January 6 attack and sends a dangerous message about the consequences for attempting to overturn democratic elections.

The takeaway

The decision to vacate the seditious conspiracy convictions of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys leaders, following the pardons and commutations issued by former President Trump, highlights the ongoing political divisions and the ability of former leaders to wield power even after leaving office. It also raises concerns about the lasting influence of Confederate ideology and the erosion of accountability for attacks on American democracy.