Legal representative of the far-right Oath Keepers group admits to Capitol riot involvement

On Wednesday, an attorney who was a legal representative for the far-right group Oath Keepers pleaded guilty to charges related to the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Kellye SoRelle, the general counsel for the extremist group and a close associate of its founder, is set to be sentenced on January 17 by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C.

SoRelle, 45, from Granbury, Texas, admitted guilt to two charges: obstructing justice, a felony, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor. The felony charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, but her sentencing guidelines suggest a maximum of 16 months behind bars.

SoRelle was arrested in September 2022 in Junction, Texas. Her case was on hold for several months due to concerns about her mental well-being.

Last month, after being deemed mentally competent to stand trial, SoRelle reported to a federal Bureau of Prisons facility for treatment. In a filing accompanying her guilty plea, it was noted that even though she did not physically enter the Capitol building on January 6, she understood the significance of delaying the certification process.

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes is currently serving an 18-year prison sentence for his involvement in a scheme to maintain Donald Trump’s presidency after the 2020 election. SoRelle had previously indicated to the media that she was acting as the Oath Keepers’ leader in Rhodes’ absence.

Before the riot, SoRelle was photographed with Rhodes outside the Capitol. As chaos unfolded, she communicated with other Oath Keepers, stating, “We are acting like the founding fathers — can’t stand down. Per Stewart, and I concur.”

It was revealed during the trial that SoRelle had a romantic relationship with Rhodes. She pleaded guilty to obstructing justice for encouraging the destruction of electronic evidence related to the plot. She and Rhodes had urged Oath Keepers via her cellphone to erase incriminating data.

SoRelle was indicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy with Rhodes and other members to impede Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote. However, she did not plead guilty to the conspiracy charge. In a separate development, a trial date of February 3 was set for John Banuelos, an individual charged with firing a gun during the riot in D.C. Banuelos, from Summit, Illinois, remains in pretrial custody after being deemed a flight risk and a danger to society by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan. The judge emphasized the potential severity of Banuelos firing gunshots during the events.