Judge Bars Oath Keepers from Washington After Trump Commutations

A federal judge has issued an order barring Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and seven co-defendants from entering Washington, D.C., or the U.S. Capitol without court permission, following their recent sentence commutations by President Trump. District Court Judge Amit Mehta's ruling comes amid a conflict with D.C.'s interim U.S. prosecutor, who argues that the defendants should not be subject to any travel restrictions post-commutation. The legal debate centers on whether the terms of supervised release can be modified after Trump’s clemency actions, which also included pardons for over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. Rhodes, who was serving an 18-year sentence before his commutation, was recently seen on Capitol Hill, asserting his right to free speech and claiming to have no regrets about his actions. The Justice Department's current stance suggests a significant shift, as they now advocate for the removal of travel restrictions imposed by the court. As the situation evolves, the implications for the defendants and the judicial process remain uncertain.