Former FBI Official: Oath Keepers Guilty Verdict Is Very Bad News For Donald Trump

Recently, a federal jury in Washington, D.C. found Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs, who is also a member of the extreme right-wing group, guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The two men could be sentenced to as much as 20 years in prison.

According to a former top FBI official, the guilty verdict should be especially concerning to failed, one-term, twice-impeached former president Donald Trump.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe was asked by CNN host Kasie Hunt about what message is being sent to those who have not yet been indicted for the Capitol insurrection:

“Let me ask you about what we saw in the trial. Do you think the events of the last 24 hours have changed the calculation for the Justice Department in terms of whether or not to prosecute the former president, since they were able to secure this conviction?”

McCabe agreed the conviction does indeed turn up the heat on Trump and others:

“No question, in a couple of ways. The comments about the Oath Keeper verdict by the AG (Merrick Garland) is a little more than just a chest-pounding session. He is sending a message to the attorneys representing the other Oath Keepers, whose trial is coming up, and the Proud Boys and whoever might be in the wings later that we can do this. We can put on these complicated, high-stakes political cases and get verdicts. Rethink whether you want to cooperate, provide evidence and seek an easier path.”

He added:

“I think that’s a — it’s a very loud message to those folks who were in leadership positions, who may be being looked at for their role in organizing and instigating the attack. And first and foremost among those is, of course, the former president.”