A U.S. federal judge dismissed a seditious conspiracy case against the far-right group Oath Keepers on Tuesday, following the Biden administration’s request to vacate the convictions of its members. The move effectively ends the remaining prosecutions related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The decision was criticized by Judge Amit Mehta, who wrote that the government was seeking to “absolve these Defendants of crimes against the United States itself.”

Justice Department Vacates Convictions

The Department of Justice, in April, moved to vacate the convictions of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and others who had their sentences commuted but not pardoned. This marked a surprising shift for the Biden administration, which had previously praised the guilty verdicts in one of the most serious cases stemming from the Capitol attack. The judge noted he had no choice but to comply with the administration’s request.

Mehta, a judge nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, described the dismissal as a reluctant decision, stating: “This is the last of the prosecutions seeking to hold accountable those responsible for the events of Jan. 6. That book is now closed.” The move also freed individuals previously convicted for violent assaults on police officers and other related crimes, as part of a sweeping pardon and commutation issued by former President Donald Trump last year.

Crypto Startup Founder Indicted for Misuse of Funds

Separately, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted Taz Tarsia, the founder of the NFT startup Few and Far, on charges of securities fraud and wire fraud. According to a Manhattan federal prosecutor, Tarsia misused over $10 million raised from investors between February 2022 and June 2023 for purposes unrelated to the company’s stated mission. Instead of building the promised decentralized NFT marketplace, Tarsia allegedly spent the funds on online gambling, cryptocurrency speculation, and personal expenses.

The funds were collected through Simple Agreements for Future Tokens (SAFTs), which gave investors the right to receive 95 million FAR tokens once the platform became operational. The funds were supposed to support the development of the marketplace, but an internal audit in June 2023 uncovered the misuse — Tarsia, 34, allegedly misled investors by claiming the money was being used to meet project milestones and that the company was progressing as planned.

In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said that Tarsia had fired most of the company’s employees and instructed a single contractor to maintain the illusion that the platform was active. The FAR token was initially launched in May 2024 but quickly became valueless, with trading ceasing shortly thereafter.

Legal and Ethical Criticisms Emerge

Both developments have drawn scrutiny over the Justice Department’s recent legal decisions — In the Jan. 6 case, critics argue that the dismissal undermines accountability for serious crimes, particularly those involving violence against law enforcement. The judge’s criticism of the government’s request highlights the tension between prosecutorial discretion and the rule of law.

In the crypto case, the charges against Tarsia reveal growing concerns about transparency and accountability in the fast-moving and often opaque world of digital assets. The case could set a precedent for how the Justice Department handles fraudulent activities in the crypto space, especially as the industry continues to expand and attract both investment and regulatory interest.