WASHINGTON—Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes has tested positive for COVID-19, Judge Amid Mehta announced on Oct. 24 at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse.
Rhodes, one of five defendants in the Oath Keepers seditious conspiracy trial, contracted COVID-19 over the weekend, according to his attorney, Edward Tarpley. The D.C. Detention Center is keeping Rhodes in total isolation, allowing him no phone calls or contact with his lawyers.
Mehta had hoped to finish the trial before Nov. 7, but now, most probably, it will last past the midterm elections. The judge said that the D.C. Detention Center, where Rhodes is being held, has a 10-day quarantine policy when someone gets infected with the disease. However, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policy, Mehta told the court it might be possible to adhere to five days of quarantine instead.
Another defense lawyer, Philip Linder, suggested that Rhodes could be provided with a phone and join the trial online via Zoom call. Mehta is considering this option.
The judge denied Linder’s idea to have the courthouse U.S. marshals physically escort Rhodes to the court and put him in a separate room so that his lawyers could send him notes and other communication during the trial while attending via Zoom call. Mehta responded that there was no way that he would let the U.S. marshals come into contact with infected Rhodes.
“We will be in recess until tomorrow morning,” Mehta announced.
Depending on Rhodes’ length of quarantine, the trial delay could push closing arguments and the verdict past the mid-terms.
D.C. federal courthouse lifted the mandatory mask mandate last week. However, Mehta still required it in the courtroom where the Oath Keepers’ trial is taking place to exclude any chance of having COVID-19 during an already long trial.
Last week, Mehta dismissed one of the 16 jurors who tested positive for COVID-19. The other jury members who received negative results had no concerns about continuing to attend the trial.
The U.S. government has charged Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell with multiple crimes, including seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, conspiracy to prevent an officer from carrying out any duties, destruction of government property, civil disorder, and tampering with documents.
