US judge grants DOJ's request to dismiss cases against far-right Oath Keepers for January 6 riots

A US judge on Tuesday granted the Justice Department's request to dismiss cases against members of the far-right Oath Keepers militia involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. This ruling by Washington-based US District Judge Amit Mehta overturns convictions, including those for seditious conspiracy against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, following former President Trump's pardons and commutations for nearly all January 6 defendants. Judge Mehta expressed strong disagreement with the decision, stating, "Today's epilogue diminishes the gravity of that day, denigrates the work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers who secured these convictions, and excuses criminal acts." The Justice Department also moved to vacate seditious conspiracy convictions for members of the Proud Boys group.