Mark Grods

Case Summary

Federal prosecutors allege that Mark Grods coordinated with members of the extremist anti-government militia known as the Oath Keepers to interfere with the certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021. Ahead of the Capitol riot, court documents state, Grods joined a group chat named on the encrypted messaging app Signal called "DC OP: Jan 6 21." Grods "brought firearms to Washington, D.C., and eventually provided them to another individual to store in a Virginia hotel," while Grods stayed with other members of the group at the Mayflower Hotel in D.C., prosecutors say. While the Capitol riot was ongoing, Grods allegedly rode in a golf cart with others members of the Oath Keepers to the Capitol, then breached the building while carrying what prosecutors describe as a "large stick." Soon after, Grods exited the building as law enforcement used pepper balls to try to force people out of the Capitol, the court documents state. Later, he allegedly met with other members of the Oath Keepers outside the Capitol building, and, in the days after the riot, said he had deleted his messages on Signal. As part of a plea agreement, Grods has agreed to testify in court and sit for interviews with investigators. According to sentencing memos filed in court, Grods served in the U.S. Army.

Case History

Grods pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy and Obstruction Of An Official Proceeding. Sentenced on 12/13/2024 to 36 months probation; restitution of $2,000; special assessment of $200. Grods received a full pardon on January 20, 2025

Sources

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

Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.