Judge Rescinds Order Allowing Oath Keepers Founder to Visit Washington Freely
A recent ruling by a federal judge has overturned the travel restrictions imposed on Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and other individuals associated with the January 6 events in Washington, D.C. The judge, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, admitted that the restrictions he initially set in place would not be enforced by the Justice Department, which swiftly sided with Rhodes in this matter.
Legal Implications
Despite this reversal, Judge Mehta chose not to completely eliminate the supervised release conditions of the defendants, despite requests from both the Justice Department and the defendants themselves. The court clarified that President Trump’s commutation did not nullify the original sentences but only impacted their execution.
Supervised Release Conditions
Following the commutation, Rhodes and his co-defendants urged the judge to reconsider their supervised release conditions and probation terms, such as maintaining contact with probation officers and avoiding individuals involved in criminal activities. They highlighted that past presidents, when granting commutations, have typically indicated whether the release conditions should remain.
Attorneys representing the defendants argued that the commutation should effectively terminate all aspects of the sentence, including supervision post-release. The possibility of a legal showdown looms as advocates for the defendants hint at potential pardons from President Trump to resolve the matter without further litigation.
Potential Legal Battles
The disagreement between the defendants and the court could escalate to higher judicial levels, with suggestions that full pardons might be issued to avoid prolonged legal battles. However, it remains uncertain if President Trump intends to take additional clemency actions on behalf of the individuals involved in the January 6 events.
