How Seditious Conspiracy Figures Into the Jan. 6 Riot: QuickTake

More than 1,000 people have been charged with crimes in connection with the riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. Ten members of two extremist groups were convicted at trial of seditious conspiracy, and four others pleaded guilty to the crime. Considered the most serious offense linked to the Capitol breach, seditious conspiracy has a long and vexed history.

1. What is seditious conspiracy?

It’s the official name in federal law for sedition — the organized encouragement of rebellion or civil disorder against the authority of the state. The rarely used, ...