On August 19th, two additional defendants from the Oath Keeper group received sentencing for their involvement in the January 6th sedition. Graydon Young and Laura Steele were both sentenced to 5 years in prison for their roles in the attack on the United States Capitol building.
The Oath Keepers are a far-right extremist group that believes in a conspiracy theory that the government is planning to take away Americans’ rights. They have been known to recruit members from law enforcement and military backgrounds, and they have been involved in several violent incidents in the past.
On January 6th, members of the Oath Keepers were among the thousands of supporters of former President Donald Trump who stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The attack resulted in the deaths of five people, including a Capitol police officer.
Graydon Young and Laura Steele were both charged with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and aiding and abetting. They were accused of working with other members of the Oath Keepers to plan and coordinate their actions on January 6th.
During their sentencing hearing, both Young and Steele expressed remorse for their actions and apologized for their role in the attack. However, the judge noted that their actions had serious consequences and that they had contributed to the chaos and violence that occurred that day.
The sentencing of Young and Steele is just the latest in a series of legal actions against members of the Oath Keepers and other far-right extremist groups who participated in the January 6th attack. Dozens of people have been arrested and charged in connection with the attack, and more are expected to face charges in the coming months.
The events of January 6th were a shocking reminder of the dangers posed by extremist groups and individuals who seek to undermine our democracy and incite violence. The sentencing of Graydon Young and Laura Steele sends a strong message that those who engage in such actions will be held accountable for their actions. It is a reminder that our democracy depends on the rule of law and that those who seek to undermine it will be brought to justice.
