Oath Keepers Founder Steward Rhodes Takes the Stand in January 6 Seditious Conspiracy Trial

Leaders of the far-right extremist group Oath Keepers were on trial for seditious conspiracy based on their actions during the January 6 Capitol insurrection. On Friday, its founder and leader, Stewart Rhodes, finally took the stand.

Prosecutors spent weeks laying out evidence to prove Rhodes and other Oath Keepers' leaders were behind a plot to prevent President-elect Joe Biden from taking office by keeping Donald Trump, who lost in the elections.

The Associated Press reported that as he testified, Rhodes appeared to be relaxed but choked up a few times while delivering his testimony.

Wearing a dark suit and tie, the far-right extremist leader first told the jurors about his military career and why he started the Oath Keepers in 2009. He said he considers himself a patriot and loves his country.

Rhodes tried to portray his group as peaceful, despite all the evidence previously presented that says otherwise. Evidence shows him rallying members of the Oath Keepers to prepare for violence and discuss the prospect of a "bloody" civil war ahead of January 6.

According to ABC News, Rhodes said that his organization allowed veterans to "continue their public service interests and feel like they still had a purpose."

As he talked about the high suicide rate among veterans, he became emotional and said, "I don't think the military does enough to let them transfer from military life to civilian life."

Rhodes further noted that he had an "interest in protecting free speech regardless of political view," claiming that his group even "protected" a Black Lives Matter rally.

Rhodes is expected to face an intense cross-examination from prosecutors when the trial resumes next week.

Stewart Rhodes Denies Election Results in Court

While he tried presenting himself and his group as peaceful, Stewart Rhodes went on to deny the election results.

When asked if he believed the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump, Rhodes answered with debunked claims that Joe Biden's victory was "unconstitutional" and "invalid."

"You really can't have a winner of an unconstitutional election," said Rhodes in front of the jury.

On trial alongside Rhodes are Kelly Meggs, leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, Kenneth Harrelson, another Florida Oath Keeper, Virginia Oath Keeper Thomas Caldwell, and Ohio Oath Keeper Jessica Watkins.

Oath Keepers Leader Wanted to Warn Donald Trump of 'Combat on U.S. Soil'

Despite his claims that Oath Keepers is a peaceful organization, a new recording has surfaced. It recorded a meeting that took place just a few days after the Capitol insurrection.

In that recording, Stewart Rhodes allegedly tried to warn then-President Donald Trump that there would be "combat here on U.S. soil." He urged the former president to invoke the Insurrection Act.

According to CNN, the recording was made by Jason Alpers, a U.S. military veteran who testified against the Oath Keepers leaders on Wednesday.

The meeting took place on January 10, and Alpers told the court that he had an "indirect" line to the former president's "inner circle," without elaborating. Alpers said he recorded the meeting to "provide information" to Trump accurately.

Rhodes was heard in the recording saying, "If he's not going to do the right thing, and he's just going to let himself be removed illegally, then we should have brought rifles."

The recording was played in court on Wednesday as Alpers testified. Rhodes can also be heard saying, "I'd hang f**king Pelosi from the lamppost." This revelation comes after another man radicalized by right-wing propaganda attacked

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband inside his San Francisco home with a hammer as he planned to break the California representative's kneecaps.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Evidence Suggest Oath Keepers' Leader Tried to Get Message to Trump - From WFAA