Rhodes made a brief initial appearance in federal court in Plano, Texas, wearing handcuffs and leg irons.
Rhodes and 10 other people were accused by the Justice Department on Thursday of plotting to storm the Capitol by force, in a failed bid to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.
The 56-year old is the most high-profile defendant of more than 700 charged so far for allegedly taking part in the attack on the Capitol by former President Donald Trump's supporters. The riot was fueled by Trump's false claims that his election defeat was the result of fraud.
A prosecutor at Friday's hearing said the Justice Department will request that Rhodes be detained while he awaits trial.
James Lee Bright, a lawyer for Rhodes, told reporters Rhodes intends to fight the charges.
Rhodes and his associates are the first people charged with seditious conspiracy for their alleged role in the attack. That charge can carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The indictment portrayed Rhodes as a ringleader who warned his members to prepare for a "bloody and desperate fight" to prevent Joe Biden from becoming president.
