A federal judge rejected efforts by Oath Keepers leader Stuart Rhodes to fire his two lawyers and delay his trial for a riotous conspiracy related to the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, telling the leader there was “no legal reason”.  to make the eleventh hour shift.   

  According to Rhodes, who has pleaded not guilty, he and his attorneys, Philip Linder and James Lee Bright, had an “almost complete breakdown of communication” and have not spoken for nearly a month.  Rhodes also claimed that his lawyers missed deposition deadlines and did not request evidence from prosecutors that Rhodes wanted to use in his defense.   

  During a contentious hearing Wednesday, D.C. District Court Judge Amit Mehta dismissed Rhodes’ claims, saying the allegations were inconsistent with what he had seen so far.   

  Linder and Bright, who were present at the hearing, strongly defended their representation of Rhodes so far, with Bright saying the allegations were “sketchy at best” but the two pledged to “make every effort” to fix their relationship.   

  “Sir. Bright and Mr. Linder will be at this trial representing Mr. Rhodes,” Meta said of Rhodes’ attorneys. “If Mr. Rhodes wants two other attorneys at that table with him, we can to make space. It’s a big team.”   

  Mehta added that there is “no humanly possible way” for the new attorney, Edward Tarpley, to prepare for trial in the proposed 90-day delay and noted that even if he postpones Rhodes’ trial, the next available trial date is in the summer of 2023.   

  Mehta denounced Tarpley’s efforts to claim misconduct by Rhodes’ current lawyers, saying they had “zealously” supported Rhodes.   

  “The idea that you had all 42 or 72 hours with Mr. Rhodes to characterize these proceedings is a little problematic,” Mehta said.  “A little humility might not hurt.”   

  The Justice Department indicted Rhodes and several others for conspiracy in January, accusing them of allegedly recruiting members, stockpiling weapons and organizing to disrupt congressional certification for the 2020 election.   

  Prosecutors said some of the Affidavits also continued to plot “to violently oppose the legal transfer of presidential power” after the Capitol riot.   

  As of July, the Justice Department had secured at least seven cooperation agreements from members of the Oath Keepers, three of whom pleaded guilty to rioting conspiracy.   

  Rhodes and eight co-defendants have repeatedly tried to delay the trial, which is scheduled to begin on September 27.  Mehta has repeatedly told defense attorneys he will not push back the September date, despite delays earlier this year.   

  “We came here in good faith,” Tarpley told CNN after the hearing, adding that he felt Mehta had made up his mind before the hearing began.