Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keeper sentenced to prison, wanted Sen. John McCain hanged

Somewhere in the great beyond, Sen. John McCain is smiling.

I’d like to think so, anyway.

The leader of the far-right Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, convicted of seditious conspiracy for his part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in prison.

Back in 2015, Rhodes participated in an event called “Liberty On Tap” at the Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill at Tempe Marketplace.

Then Arizona Senate President Andy Biggs, now a congressman, also participated in the event.

Biggs refused to denounce those remarks

Rhodes, in his remarks to the gathering, called McCain a traitor.

He said in part, “John Cain (yes, he dropped the Mc from the senator’s name) is a traitor to the Constitution. He should be tried for treason before a jury of his peers — which he would deny you …

“He would deny you the right for trial to jury, but we will give him a trial for jury, and then after we convict him, he should be hung by the neck until dead.”

Biggs was asked about that comment. He said didn’t agree with Rhodes, but didn't feel it was his place to speak up and denounce him.

Oh, I don’t know.

I feel it would be the place of any decent human being to denounce such a thing.

Former AZ GOP chair appeared with Rhodes

Former Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward, then a state senator, also was at the event where Rhodes said McCain should be hanged.

She also didn’t publicly condemn Rhodes’ comment.

After riot: How Ed Vallejo was charged with seditious conspiracy

She appeared with Rhodes at another Arizona event, in Kingman, where each was a featured speaker.

For his part, McCain chose not to dignify Rhodes’ comments with a response.

Wonder how he feels about a jury now?

In sentencing Rhodes, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta said, “You, sir, present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, to the republic and to the very fabric of our democracy. You are smart, you are compelling, and you are charismatic. Frankly, that is what makes you dangerous.”

In 2015 Rhodes said McCain should be judged by a jury of his peers.

He seemed to feel strongly about the process back then, about how an accused person’s peers should determine if his behavior is traitorous.

I wonder how he feels about that now?

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Oath Keeper headed to prison wanted John McCain hanged