The episode of The Excerpt podcast discussed the events leading up to the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021, orchestrated by supporters of Donald Trump. The focus was on Stewart Rhodes, the founder of a far-right anti-government militia called the Oath Keepers. Rhodes, a Yale-educated attorney and former Army paratrooper, founded the group in 2009. The Oath Keepers became synonymous with the attack on the Capitol, and Rhodes was charged with seditious conspiracy among other crimes.
National Correspondent and Extremism Reporter Will Carless, who has covered the Oath Keepers extensively, shared his conversations with Stewart Rhodes’s family. Rhodes’s ex-wife, Tasha Adams, and his eldest son, Dakota Adams, expressed fear that if Donald Trump were to win the 2024 presidential election, Rhodes could be pardoned and released, posing a threat to their safety.
Tasha Adams described her abusive relationship with Stewart Rhodes, highlighting his increasingly erratic behavior as the Oath Keepers grew in power. Dakota Adams expressed concern about his father’s mental state, believing that Rhodes had a messianic delusion and was capable of violent acts.
The family fears that if Rhodes were to be released from prison, he would seek revenge on them. They worry that a potential pardon from Donald Trump could lead to Rhodes being freed and carrying out his threats. Trump has made comments suggesting he might pardon those involved in the Capitol attack, raising concerns for the safety of those targeted by Rhodes. The family is living in fear of what might happen if Rhodes were to be released.
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