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U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said during a Friday court
hearing that Rhodes spent thousands of dollars on weapons and
other equipment ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol
by Donald Trump's supporters and also made "substantial
purchases" of weapons afterwards.
"He presents a clear and convincing danger, in my view," Mehta
said.
Rhodes's lawyers had proposed he be released into the custody of
relatives in California, where he would stay in a separate
residence on their property without access to the internet.
Mehta said he was not satisfied with that arrangement, stating
that Rhodes "has been extremely sophisticated with his ability
to communicate."
Criminal defendants are often released pending trial, since they
are presumed innocent until convicted, but can be held if they
are deemed dangerous or likely to flee the country.
Rhodes, 56, is the most high-profile defendant of the more than
725 people charged with playing a role in the attack by
then-President Trump's supporters. His lawyer said there is no
evidence that Rhodes conspired to block Congress from certifying
Joe Biden's election.
He is one of 11 members or associates of the Oath Keepers facing
a seditious conspiracy charge.
Rhodes is accused of spearheading a conspiracy to block the
certification of the presidential election by recruiting others
and even stationing armed "quick reaction force" units outside
of Washington to be ready to stop the peaceful transfer of
power.
A U.S. magistrate judge in Texas last month ruled Rhodes should
be detained, after hearing testimony from an FBI agent as well
as Rhodes' ex-wife who expressed concerns for her safety. Rhodes
appealed that decision to Mehta.
(Reporting by Jan Wolfe in West Palm Beach, Florida; Additional
reporting by Jacqueline Thomsen in Washington; Editing by Scott
Malone, Alistair Bell and Richard Pullin)
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