Joseph Hackett

Case Summary

Joseph Hackett is facing criminal charges as part of the government's case against multiple alleged members of the anti-government extremist militia group known as the Oath Keepers. Federal prosecutors say Hackett has used the moniker "Ahab." Soon after the November 2020 presidential election, Hackett allegedly joined an online meeting with the leader of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, in which Rhodes told members of the group to go to Washington, D.C., to support then-President Donald Trump. "We’re going to defend the president, the duly elected president, and we call on him to do what needs to be done to save our country," Rhodes told the group, according to court documents filed by the government. "Because if you don’t, guys, you’re going to be in a bloody, bloody civil war and a bloody — you can call it an insurrection or you can call it a war or fight.” After that meeting, Hackett allegedly took part in planning for an "operation" on Jan. 6, 2021 with members of the Oath Keepers via encrypted email and messaging services. On the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutors allege, Hackett and other Oath Keepers members "prepared themselves for battle before heading to the Capitol by equipping themselves with communication devices and donning reinforced vests, helmets, and goggles." Just after 2:30 p.m. on that day, Hackett and other Oath Keepers members formed a military-style "stack" formation and "forcibly entered" the Capitol, according to prosecutors. Court documents state that Hackett left the building at 2:54 p.m. and then met with other members of the group, including Rhodes, outside the building around 4 p.m.

Case History

Hackett pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Jury trial held from 12/6/2022-1/23/2023. He was found Guilty on five charges: Seditious Conspiracy; Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting; Conspiracy to Prevent an Officer from Discharging Any Duties; and Not Guilty of Destruction of Government Property and Aiding and Abetting. Sentenced on 6/2/2023 to 42 months of incarceration; 36 months of supervised release; special assessment of $400. A proclamation commutes the sentence to time served as of January 20, 2025

Later Developments

• 2026-08-04 · federal criminal disposition

  The district court dismissed the indictment with prejudice after the appellate court vacated the convictions on May 21, 2026.

  Legal Status: Convictions vacated and indictment dismissed; this does not erase the historical trial record or establish the status of other matters.

  • Development Source
    United States v. Rhodes et al., No. 22-cr-15, memorandum opinion and order, August 4, 2026U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, court filing via CourtListener2026-10-24

Sources

• Primary Documentation
  NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR
• Primary Documentation
  Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR

The original January 6 case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25. Later developments are separately dated and sourced; they concern distinct proceedings and public events.