India-born US Judge Amit Mehta gives a dressing down to founder of far-right anti-government militia
Washington (PTI): India-born US District Judge Amit Mehta had some tough words for Stewart Rhodes before he sentenced the founder of a far-right anti-government militia for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that ended with the violent attack on the US Capitol.
Mehta, in his early 50s, handed down an 18-year prison sentence to Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, on Thursday for his role in the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Rhodes' sentence was the longest handed out so far for the riot, where thousands of supporters of former president Donald Trump who objected to the result of the 2020 presidential election won by Democratic leader Joe Biden.
The supporters of Trump, a Republican, stormed the US legislature and stopped the constitutional proceedings of the counting of the electoral votes for Biden.
Before announcing the sentence, Mehta, a nominee of former President Barack Obama, delivered a chilling address to Rhodes about the impact of his seditious conspiracy crimes on American democracy, CNN reported.
"I dare say, Rhodes and I never have said this to anyone I have sentenced you pose an ongoing threat and peril to our democracy and the fabric of this country," Mehta said.
"I dare say we all now hold our collective breaths when an election is approaching. Will we have another January 6 again? That remains to be seen."
The judge, refuting claims Rhodes made during a 20-minute rant earlier in the day, added: "You are not a political prisoner, Rhodes. That is not why you are here. It is not because of your beliefs. It is not because Joe Biden is the president right now."
The sentence is the first handed down in over a decade for seditious conspiracy and Mehta said he wanted to explain the offence to the public. He did not mince words.
"A seditious conspiracy, when you take those two concepts and put it together, is among the most serious crimes an American can commit. It is an offence against the government to use force. It is an offence against the people of our country," the judge said.
Mehta said Rhodes, 58, has expressed no remorse and continues to be a threat.
"It would be one thing, Rhodes, if after January 6 you had looked at what happened that day and said that was not a good day for our democracy. But you celebrated it, you thought it was a good thing," the judge said.
"Even as you have been incarcerated you have continued to allude to violence as an acceptable means to address grievances."
Mehta echoed these warnings later on Thursday when addressing a second Oath Keepers defendant, Kelly Meggs.
"You don't take to the streets with rifles," he said.
"You don't hope that the president invokes the insurrection act so you can start a war in the streets You don't rush into the US Capitol with the hope to stop the electoral vote count."
Meggs, the leader of the militia's Florida chapter, was jailed for 12 years.
Prosecutors had asked for 25 years for Rhodes and 21 years for Meggs.
Mehta was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on December 22, 2014, by former US president Barack Obama.
Born in Patan, Gujarat, Mehta received his B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Georgetown University in 1993 and his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1997.
After law school, Mehta worked in a law firm in San Francisco before clerking for Susan Graber of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Following his clerkship, Mehta worked at a Washington, DC-based law firm.
He is also a former Director of Facilitating Leadership in Youth, a non-profit organisation dedicated to after-school activities and mentoring for at-risk youth, according to his profile on the website of the US District Court, District of Columbia.
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Mamata accuses BSF of allowing infiltration to destabilize Bengal; border guards reject claims
Kolkata, Jan 2: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the Border Security Force of facilitating infiltration from Bangladesh as part of a central government "blueprint" to destabilize the state, a charge the BSF denied, asserting it diligently guards the country's boundary.
Speaking at an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat, Banerjee alleged that the BSF was allowing infiltrators to enter through areas like Islampur, Sitai, and Chopra.
"We have information that the BSF is letting infiltrators enter India through various border areas. This is a deliberate attempt to destabilize the state. There is a deep-rooted conspiracy involving the central government," she said.
Banerjee said she could sense a "blueprint of the Centre" behind this attitude of the BSF.
"Goons are entering India. I want peace on both sides of the border. We have a good relationship with neighbouring Bangladesh," she said.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo further alleged that women were being tortured by the BSF.
"They (BSF) torture women, but why haven't you protested?" she asked officials present at the meeting.
Banerjee emphasized that border security was not the responsibility of the state.
"The guarding of borders is not in our hands. It's the BSF's duty. The Trinamool Congress doesn't guard the border. When people enter, where are they going? The DMs have information on where they are going," she said.
A senior BSF official in the eastern region dismissed the allegations, emphasizing that the border guarding force was performing its duties with utmost sincerity.
"The BSF has maintained a 24/7 vigil along the border. We are diligently performing our responsibilities to ensure the safety and security of the borders," the official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Accusing the Centre of blaming the TMC unfairly for the infiltration issue, Banerjee said, "If someone thinks to destabilize the state and blame it on the Trinamool Congress, I will say it is not the TMC's fault, as border areas are controlled by the BSF. Some media channels are spreading this misinformation for TRPs."
The CM also raised concerns about the cessation of information sharing related to international arrivals.
"Granting visas is not in the state's jurisdiction; it is handled by the central government. We used to get the list of people taking flights to come here, but now that has been stopped. So, we don't know who is entering Bengal through international arrivals," she stated.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar called Banerjee’s claims baseless and accused her of attempting to shield her party's shortcomings.
"The chief minister has reached the height of delusion. Despite not providing land for border outposts, she blames the BSF and even her own administration's officials for infiltration. Her accusations are aimed at deflecting from her party's failures," Majumdar said in a post on X.
Banerjee directed Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar to investigate where infiltrators were staying after entering the state.
"I have told the Centre several times that we will follow their decisions. But if I see that someone is helping terrorism to disturb my state, then we will protest. That's why I will send a strong protest letter to the Centre," she added.
Referring to a recent bust of a fake passport racket by West Bengal Police, Banerjee said the arrests highlighted how the porous borders were being exploited.
"The passports were issued to people who illegally entered India from Bangladesh. This is another indication of the need for better coordination," she said.
Highlighting the cultural and linguistic ties with Bangladesh, Banerjee stressed her desire for peace.
"We have a good relationship with Bangladesh. People can come here for treatment, but we must be informed. I want peace on both sides of the border," she said.
India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km border of which 2,217 KM is with West Bengal, much of which is porous. The issue has gained prominence amid heightened tension following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina from power in Dhaka and an influx of refugees into India.
Banerjee concluded by reiterating her commitment to opposing any attempt to destabilize the state.
"If anyone supports terror to disturb my state, we will protest strongly," she said.
The failed Chief Minister of the state, @MamataOfficial, has reached the ultimate level of delusion!
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) January 2, 2025
Despite not providing land to set up outposts for border surveillance, she used to blame the Border Security Force (@BSF_India ) for illegal infiltration. But now, crossing all… pic.twitter.com/Jwzk0oAzwF
