In a significant development in a long-running legal battle, a federal judge in Orange County has granted bail to Robert Rundo, the accused founder of the violent white supremacist group known as the Rise Above Movement (RAM). However, the bail order will not be implemented for at least four days, pending a review by a higher court. The decision comes after U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney expressed concerns about the government’s use of resources in the case during a lengthy hearing.
Rundo, who spent nearly a year as a fugitive before being extradited from Romania last year, is facing charges of conspiracy and rioting. Judge Carney has previously dismissed the government’s case against Rundo and other RAM members, stating that they were being selectively prosecuted while “far-left extremist groups” were not. Carney emphasized that he did not have evidence of serious injuries caused by Rundo or RAM, including to members of Antifa or innocent civilians.
This is not the first time Rundo has been granted bail. In February, Carney dismissed the charges against him, leading to his temporary release. However, prosecutors appealed the decision, and Rundo was subsequently taken back into custody. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later ruled that any future release order for Rundo should be automatically stayed for at least four days.
In a written order, Judge Carney criticized the prosecution’s conduct in the case, describing it as “quite troubling” and suggesting that the government “just does not seem to care about the Constitution.” Prosecutors, on the other hand, argued that Rundo was a dangerous and violent individual, highlighting a previous case where he was sentenced to two years in prison for stabbing someone.
Prosecutors also revealed that Nazi paraphernalia, including swastika drawings and a framed portrait of Adolf Hitler, were found in Rundo’s home in Huntington Beach, which he shared with a fellow Nazi-sympathizer.
The case against Rundo and other RAM members dates back to 2018 when they were charged with violating federal conspiracy and riot statutes. The indictment alleges that they recruited new members, organized combat training, and participated in violent attacks at political rallies across California. Rundo himself is accused of organizing these confrontations and assaulting both protesters and police officers.
Judge Carney, however, placed blame on the anti-fascist movement known as Antifa, stating that they were the true threat to democracy at the rallies. He questioned whether the prosecution could convince a jury in Orange County to unanimously agree on the conspiracy charges against Rundo and his co-defendants.
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