Stewart Rhodes ex-wife say she’s ‘happy he can’t hurt us’ as he’s handed 18-year sentence
The ex-wife of imprisoned Oath Keeper leader Stewart Rhodes was thrilled to hear the news that her husband will be incarcerated for the next 18 years.
Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy, the most severe sentence yet handed down to a defendant on January 6.
Tasha Adams, 49, joined CNN Primetime Thursday night to comment on her former husband’s sentencing: “I’m very happy about it. It’s been a great week for us, really, as a family we’re happy to feel safe. We’re glad he’s in a place where he can’t hurt us, he can’t hurt anyone else,” she said.
“You know, of course there’s that dark cloud of grace hanging on depending on who comes into office next time or even, you know, after the next election. So there’s some, you know, cause for concern,” she continued.
“But other than that, it’s, you know, great to feel safe, really. And it’s been – my divorce was finalized this week after five and a half years of trying to deal with it. So it has been a lot at once.’
Rhodes is pictured testifying before U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in court in November
Stewart Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the January 6 riots
His estranged wife also criticized former President Donald Trump in light of his statement about considering pardons for defendants related to the event.
Tasha filed for divorce in 2018 after accusing Rhodes of physically and emotionally abusing her.
During the episode, host Abby Phillip Adams asked for her response to Trump and Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis being open to pardoning those involved in the U.S. Capitol riot.
Adams expressed her belief that convincing Trump and DeSantis to pardon would be fruitless, as she believes they are both on the same page as Rhodes and see no problem with his actions.
When asked what she would like Trump to understand about who the Oath Keepers are, Adams dismissed the former president.
“I’m not sure anything I would say would make any difference because I think they fully understand what he is and what he was trying to do, and they fully support it. He is someone who has been planning war for more than ten years.’
Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled on Thursday that Rhodes’ actions on January 6 amounted to domestic terrorism
Adams continued to bash Trump and Desantis: “All he ever thought about was creating chaos, creating violence, violence at home, violence, you know, in the country, anything that could put him on top, and one way or the other. to happen. And I think, you know, Trump totally gets it, DeSantis totally gets it, they know what Stewart is about and they agree with him.”
Adams warned how dangerous her estranged husband still is and was confident that pardoning him could bring another chance on Jan. 6.
“Are you at all concerned that if Rhodes were pardoned there would be any risk of another possible January 6?”
Adams replied: Oh, absolutely. This is Stewart’s life’s work. This is what he does. He is incredibly brilliant. He is completely manipulative. He’s good at what he does. And he’ll just regroup immediately. I guarantee he already has plans for as soon as he gets out. He will regroup and he will do this again. And he will do this again until he creates the kind of chaos he wants to create.
Rhodes, 58, is the first person convicted of seditious conspiracy in the January 6, 2021 attack to receive his sentence, and his sentence is the longest served to date in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department will “continue to do everything in our power to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the attack on our democracy on January 6.”
Rhodes, who wears an eye patch after accidentally shooting himself in the face with his own gun, founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. He is pictured in a parking garage in Washington DC on January 5, 2021.
Some of the Oath Keepers breached the Capitol dressed in paramilitary gear. Others at a suburban hotel staged a “rapid response force,” which prosecutors said was equipped with firearms that could be quickly transported to Washington
Rhodes remained outside while other members of the group stormed the Capitol
The judge agreed with the Justice Department that Rhodes’ actions should be punished as “terrorism,” which is the reason for the extreme sentence.
It is open to question whether this sentence will foreshadow long sentences in the future for other far-right extremists, including former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who have also been convicted of the rarely used charge.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta described a rebellious Rhodes as a continuing threat to the United States and democracy pending his sentencing.
The judge said that because of his actions, the American will “now holds our collective breath every time an election approaches.”
“You’re smart, you’re charismatic and compelling and frankly that’s what makes you dangerous,” the judge told Rhodes. “The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you are ready to take up arms against your government.”
Rhodes, 58, is pictured outside the Capitol on Jan. 6. Prosecutors argued he was the architect of a plot to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election
In the photo, Rhodes is testing “escape tunnels” in his backyard. His estranged wife Tasha Adams posted the footage online, prompting a judge to deny him bail in January 2022.
Rather than express regret or ask for clemency, Rhodes claimed to be a “political prisoner” and criticized prosecutors and the Biden administration for attempting to downplay his role on January 6.
“I am a political prisoner and like President Trump, my only crime is to oppose those who are destroying our country,” said Rhodes, who appeared in federal court in Washington in orange prison garb.
“You are not a political prisoner, Mr. Rhodes,” the judge replied.