Key Takeaways:

• U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta lifted travel restrictions on Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers leader.
• The decision comes after President Trump's clemency for Rhodes and others linked to the January 6 Capitol attack.
• Mehta stated that while conditions of supervised release remain, they will not be enforced post-commutation.
• The Justice Department initially opposed the travel ban implemented by Mehta.
• Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy before receiving his commutation.

A federal judge has rescinded an order prohibiting Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers, from entering Washington D.C. and the U.S. Capitol without court permission. The order was overturned by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on Monday, several days after he imposed the travel restrictions following Rhodes' commutation by President Donald Trump as part of a broader clemency effort targeting those involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Judge Mehta emphasized that it would be improper to alter the original sentences of the defendants post-commutation, reflecting his view that the terms of their supervised release—including the travel restrictions—would not be enforced.

The Justice Department, led by acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, intervened shortly after Judge Mehta's initial ruling. Martin contended that Rhodes should not face restrictions, as Trump’s clemency was unconditional and effectively voided the enforcement of the original supervised release conditions. Following Trump's inauguration, Rhodes was one of several individuals whose sentences were commuted; he had previously been sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy, marking one of the longest sentences associated with the events of January 6.

Judge Mehta found Martin's interpretation of Trump's commutation to be reasonable, corroborated by Trump's statement that the clemency act was unconditional. He clarified that while the court would not dismiss the supervised release terms entirely, the defendants were “no longer bound by the judicially imposed conditions of supervised release” following the president’s commutation. This decision aligns with understanding past clemency actions, as Mehta pointed out that such acts typically don't erase the underlying convictions but may impact their execution.

Despite the complex legal maneuvering, following his release, Rhodes was spotted at the Capitol, engaging in media interviews and advocating for fellow Oath Keepers. The legal landscape surrounding his and other Oath Keepers' sentences continues to evolve as the implications of Trump's clemency are assessed. For further information, refer to reports from CBS News, The Hill, NPR, HuffPost, and The Guardian.