Judge reluctantly dismisses case against Oath Keepers militia group over Jan. 6 riot

A judge has granted the Justice Department's bid to drop a landmark case against leaders of the Oath Keepers, as former prosecutors warn about the dangers of denying the violence of Jan. 6.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5492x3661+0+0/resize/5492x3661!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F88%2Fbd%2F9ac8cc254cf4ab87e0f49cea4702%2Fgettyimages-2256324057.jpg' alt='Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group, attends a hearing with the House Select Subcommittee on January 6th in January 2026 in Washington, D.C.'/><p>A judge has granted the Justice Department's bid to drop a landmark case against leaders of the Oath Keepers, as former prosecutors warn about the dangers of denying the violence of Jan. 6.</p><p>(Image credit: Heather Diehl)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-137440' />