US seeks 16-month sentence for Oath Keepers lawyer

By David Thomas

Jan 9 (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors asked a judge in Washington on Thursday to impose a 16-month prison sentence on a top lawyer for the Oath Keepers militia group who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President-elect Donald Trump.

Kellye SoRelle, 45, pleaded guilty in August to a felony charge of obstruction of justice and a misdemeanor charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

Federal prosecutors said SoRelle was present during the riot along with Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers group. Although neither of them entered the Capitol building, SoRelle told others to destroy evidence in order to conceal their involvement, prosecutors said.

"SoRelle's efforts to obstruct the investigation into the attack on the Capitol, like her participation in the attack itself, show a disdain for the rule of law that merits the government's recommended sentence," according to Thursday's sentencing memo.

Prosecutors are also recommending three years of supervised release for SoRelle.

A lawyer for SoRelle did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

SoRelle is due to be sentenced Jan. 17, three days before the Republican president-elect is scheduled to be sworn in for his second term. Trump has promised to grant clemency to at least some of his supporters who stormed the Capitol, but he has sent mixed messages about who might receive clemency.

SoRelle has claimed to be the acting leader of the Oath Keepers after Rhodes was charged with seditious conspiracy for his role in the riot. Rhodes was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2023 by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta.

Mehta is also overseeing SoRelle's criminal case.

(Reporting by David Thomas)