Titusville Oath Keeper Kenneth Harrelson, on trial with Stewart Rhodes, the far-right militia group's founder, was acquitted in federal court Tuesday of seditious conspiracy for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol assault, according to multiple news sources.
A jury of seven men and five women, however, found Harrelson along with Rhodes and three other co-defendants in the case all guilty of obstructing an official proceeding of Congress, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
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Rhodes and Kelly Meggs, another Florida Oath Keeper accused by prosecutors of helping to organize a plot to stop the transfer of presidential power to President Joe Biden, were both convicted of seditious conspiracy, the most serious charges leveled in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
The decision was another victory for the U.S. Justice Department's efforts to hold Jan. 6 rioters accountable for their violent efforts to stop Congress from ratifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Harrelson also was convicted of conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, tampering with proceedings and aiding and abetting. He was found not guilty on charges of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and destruction of property.
Harrelson had pleaded not guilty to all charges in the case.
Prosecutors argued that the Oath Keepers, led by Rhodes, had schemed and eventually carried out an assault on the U.S. Capitol Building with the intention of disrupting Congress. Harrelson was alleged to be a leader of the "ground team" that scaled the Capitol steps and eventually breached the east Rotunda doors.
His attorney argued in court briefings that Harrelson had no part in planning any attack and was merely looking after people he was assigned to escort as security detail to a sanctioned rally nearby.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
USA TODAY's Ella Lee contributed to this report.
Eric Rogers is a watchdog reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Rogers at 321-242-3717 or esrogers@floridatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter: @EricRogersFT.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Titusville Oath Keeper Kenneth Harrelson not guilty of sedition charge
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