Oath Keepers Lawyer Admits Guilt in Capitol Riot Case

Kellye SoRelle, the former general counsel for the far-right Oath Keepers, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. SoRelle, a close associate of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, faces sentencing on January 17, 2024, after admitting to a felony count of obstructing justice and a misdemeanor count of entering a restricted area. While the felony charge carries a potential 20-year sentence, her estimated sentencing guidelines suggest a maximum of 16 months. SoRelle's legal troubles began with her arrest in September 2022 in Junction, Texas, and her case was delayed for months due to mental health concerns. In November 2023, she entered a federal Bureau of Prisons facility for treatment. A judge later ruled that she had sufficiently recovered to understand her charges and assist in her defense. SoRelle was photographed with Rhodes outside the Capitol on January 6 but did not enter the building herself. During the trial of Rhodes and other Oath Keepers charged with seditious conspiracy, it was revealed that SoRelle had a romantic relationship with Rhodes. She was accused of encouraging the destruction of electronic evidence related to the Capitol attack, which contributed to her guilty plea. The Oath Keepers, founded in 2009, recruit military and law enforcement personnel, pledging to uphold their oaths to defend the Constitution. In related news, a trial date of February 3 has been set for an Illinois man charged with firing a weapon during the Capitol riot.