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Prosecutors are pushing for a 16-month prison sentence for Kellye SoRelle, the former attorney for the far-right Oath Keepers group, for her role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. In a memorandum filed Thursday, prosecutors argued that SoRelle’s conduct, including her participation in the riot and actions to obstruct justice, warrants a significant sentence on the high end of the 10- to 16-month guidelines outlined in her plea agreement.

"SoRelle's actions, both during the attack and in attempting to hinder the investigation afterward, reflect a disregard for the rule of law that justifies the government's recommended sentence," prosecutors said.

SoRelle, who admitted in August to entering restricted areas of the Capitol grounds and advising Oath Keepers members to destroy digital evidence, has shown no remorse for her actions, prosecutors stated. They noted that she worked alongside other senior members of the Oath Keepers in a premeditated effort to block the certification of President Joe Biden's electoral win, aiming to create chaos and disrupt the peaceful transition of power.

The government’s filing emphasized that SoRelle’s participation in the Capitol attack was not an impulsive act. Rather, it was part of a larger conspiracy planned by Oath Keepers leaders to thwart the election results. When their efforts to stop the certification failed, SoRelle took steps to eliminate evidence of their criminal activities, prosecutors said.

"Perhaps the most concerning aspect of SoRelle's conduct is her attempt to obstruct justice as a lawyer," the memorandum read. "Her familiarity with the criminal justice system only aided her in executing her crimes."

Although SoRelle pleaded guilty to charges of entering a restricted building and obstructing justice, prosecutors noted that she has yet to demonstrate genuine remorse. Instead, they accused her of downplaying her actions and minimizing her role in the conspiracy, which raises concerns about her potential to reoffend in similar circumstances.

SoRelle’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 17. Despite her guilty plea, the government argued that her failure to acknowledge the gravity of her conduct further justifies a harsh sentence.

SoRelle, who served as general counsel for the Oath Keepers, did not enter the Capitol building itself on January 6, but she traveled to Washington, D.C., with the group’s founder, Stewart Rhodes. Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison in May 2023 for his involvement in the riot, specifically for seditious conspiracy.

SoRelle’s indictment, filed in 2022, included multiple counts, including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, entering a restricted building, and obstruction of justice. However, these charges were reduced to two counts in her plea agreement, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the application of certain federal obstruction statutes.

As part of her plea, SoRelle agreed not to challenge the constitutionality of the charges or argue that her actions were outside the scope of the law. She also committed to paying $2,000 in restitution for the damage caused during the Capitol breach, which amounted to an estimated $3 million.

Initially pleading not guilty following her arrest in September 2022, SoRelle's trial was delayed when a judge deemed her mentally unfit to stand trial. After receiving treatment, she was deemed competent and later accepted a plea deal.

The case is U.S. v. Kellye SoRelle, case number 1:22-cr-00290, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. SoRelle is represented by Horatio R. Aldredge IV of the Federal Public Defender's Office for the Western District of Texas, while the government is represented by attorneys from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.