Oath Keeper sentenced as judge laments 'true American hero' who 'turned against democracy'
Raw StoryA federal judge on Friday sentenced a former leader of the Oath Keepers militia group to three years of probation in exchange for the Army combat veteran’s extensive cooperation with prosecutors investigating the violent MAGA-inspired attack on the Capitol, according to media reports. But the road to redemption for Joshua James came with a catch: he was required to hand over the Purple Heart he earned in 2007 – once considered to be “his proudest achievement” – after sustaining injuries in an explosive attack in Baghdad, Politico reported. In remarks from the bench, Mehta – an appointee of former President Barack Obama – "acknowledged the wrenching conflict of James’ life,” and called him a “true American hero” who ultimately “turned against democracy,” Politico noted. “That is what people need to wrap their heads around,” the judge said, “about how close we came — on a knife’s edge — between what happened on Jan. 6, which was bad enough, and something far worse,” according to Politico.
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Army veteran sentenced to probation for milestone conviction in Oath Keepers sedition plot
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