Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights

An insurrectionist, an “active member” of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA), and a staffer for the State Policy Network walking into a party might sound like the opening of a joke, but the punchline is not remotely funny. Following a growing national trend of far-right activists seizing the local GOP apparatus, these and other far-rightists captured leadership positions in the Kitsap County Republican Party in Western Washington State.

The ascendance of this coalition was announced on December 10, 2022, in the Facebook group of the South Kitsap Republican Party (SKRP). SKRP declared, “Congratulations to the 2023-2025 Executive Board of the Kitsap County Republican Party,” boasting that “South Kitsap came into town with a plan and a purpose. With hard work and persistence we won all the elections our slate of Conservative Candidates ran for.”[1]

But this was not conservatism.

The SKRP announced that John Cameron had been elected Vice Chair of the county party, Jessica Rice Secretary and Rick Kuss had been named a Central Kitsap School District member of the party’s Executive Board.[2] And it announced that Juliana McMahan was the new Chair of the local party.

John Cameron: From January 6 to Unrepentant Insurrectionist to Kitsap GOP Vice-Chair

John Cameron of Port Orchard gained brief national attention in 2022 when he was hit with four criminal charges relating to his participation in the January 6th insurrection. For this, Cameron, an administrator of the SKRP Facebook group, was sentenced to 36 months of probation, 30 days intermittent confinement, a $1000 fine, and $500 restitution.[3]

After receiving a tip that Cameron had been at the U.S. Capitol that day, the FBI confirmed in footage from Close Caption TV that Cameron had entered the building in a white t-shirt emblazoned with “COUNT ALL LEGAL VOTES.” Cameron aided the cause of his arrest by posting a photo of himself in the same shirt on Facebook and describing plans to attend the Stop the Steal rally that preceded the insurrection. Cameron described the riot as a “fun, exciting, interesting, and historic event,” as detailed in a federal affidavit filed in the case.[4]

John Cameron, January 6, 2021

Before entering the building, Cameron posted a video of himself saying,

“Civil disobedience has kicked in. … You can judge, we all can judge, whether this is illegal or not. But if this is what it takes to be heard, because our votes aren’t, then this is what happens.”[5]

Cameron pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of “parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.”[6]

On and after January 6, Cameron repeatedly spun conspiracy theories falsely placing anti-fascists behind the far-right insurrection. He also continued championing the mob of far-rightists who attempted to overturn the 2020 election.

On January 6, 2021, Cameron posted a photo from the insurrection, writing, “Interesting than (sic) Antifa was the first one in the door.”[7] That same day he declared, “Peaceful non violent. But Antifa just showed up.”[8]

In early 2022, Cameron elaborated on his conspiracist “thoughts” on the 2020 election and the January 6 insurrection:

“Trump did not incite the violence. This wasnt (sic) ‘insurrection.’ This was the Democratic party (sic) refusal to look into, and main stream media denying of, voting transparency that caused the protest. The election regularities are not lies, unless you believe the narrative of propaganda media…It’s not conspiracy theory, its (sic) not tin foil hat wearing idiots, its (sic) smart, kind educated American citizens. It wasnt (sic) hate groups or militia, just average citizens just heard that on CNN….On CNN. Narrccistic (sic), psychopath, egotistical…incompetent, lies and lies…

America is in turmoil and its (sic) not because Orange Man Bad. Its (sic) because bloated, news, tech, CCP [Chinese Communist Party – ed] special interest money controlling politicians, voting, and even yes radical left wing extremists groups like Antifa BLM which led the charge into the Capitol building…Next spins…because Trump supporters were white the police weren’t as aggressive with them…Change is needed. Unfortunately, usually before true change can occur, the pain of remaining the same has to be greater than that of change. That is the path we are on.”[9]

In February 2023, almost a year after being sentenced, Cameron posted on Facebook, “I am released, and sleeping in my own bed for the first time in a month. God Bless the J6ers!”[10]

 

Cameron’s path to January 6 had traversed the COVID denial mobilization that accompanied policy attempts to address the pandemic, far-right activism around school curriculum and the myth of “critical race theory,” and conspiracism about the 2020 election. Before his arrest, Cameron had been an administrator for the Informed Parents of Washington South Kitsap SD (IPWSK) Facebook group and a member of the Facebook groups Central Kitsap Parents for Freedom, Moms for Liberty – Kitsap County, WA, ReopenWA and Call to Action against Washington masking and school closures.[11]

The Informed Parents of Washington South Kitsap SD centered on addressing “Critical Race Theory” and Comprehensive Sexual Education. Cameron embraced such politics.[12] In a September 2021 post, Cameron declared that Informed Parents of Washington South Kitsap SD could “help you Moms.” He announced, “I am Rallying South Kitsap School District Parents to help Advocate for Medical Freedom and Against CRT to our local School Board.”[13]

The fight for “medical freedom” had become a rallying cry for both anti-vaxxer and COVID denial politics, while being “Against CRT” signaled fealty to the reactionary attack on quality education about racism in America’s past and present behind the banner of fighting “critical race theory.”  Cameron had written, “Stop thinking of CRT as a curriculum or subject. The goal is to change our world view.”[14]

Cameron also embraced anti-immigrant politics, misrepresenting the fact that undocumented immigrants pay taxes by posting a meme in late January 2021 declaring, “I JUST SAVED A BUNCH OF MONEY ON MY TAXES BY SWITCHING MY CITIZENSHIP STATUS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT.”[15]

In December 2021, Cameron boasted that “Legendary WA State Activist Glen Morgan” is “Mentoring me on how to write powerful effective records requests…Fighting Marxism and Communism one school board at a time.”[16]

John Cameron (left) and Glen Morgan (right)

Glen Morgan was also among those endorsing the far right effort in the Kitsap GOP, as was Sara Garriot of the Informed Parents of Washington, according to John Cameron. And, Cameron explained, the “slate” was “aligned with and in direct communication with” former state representative and failed candidate for state senate, Jesse Young, Marcus Carter, President of the Puget Sound Patriots (formerly Kitsap Patriots Tea Party), and Joy Gjersvold of the far right school-centered group, Mom’s for Liberty.[17]

Morgan has his own far right history. At a May 2020 “Hazardous Liberty Rally” in Olympia, Washington, Morgan shared lead billing with CSPOA-affiliated former police officer Loren Culp and Matt Marshall, the leader of the Washington State Three Percenters.[18]

In June 2020, the Citizens Alliance for Property Rights (CAPR), of which Morgan is Executive Director, featured Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer on its webinar, addressing the “What is the Constitutional role of a Sheriff in Protecting our Lives, Liberty and Properties?” Opening by describing Songer’s 2019 “Constitutional Sheriff of the Year” award from CSPOA, Morgan concluded, “I know that probably a number of our listeners and people who see this show wish that you were their sheriff too.”[19] Bob Songer has also allied with far rightist Ammon Bundy’s insurrectionist People’s Rights network.

Bob Songer with CAPR and CSPOA

 

Glen Morgan, who has pressed anti-tribal politics and allied with the anti-Indian Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, also has a history in Kitsap County, appearing at a 2018 meeting of the Kitsap Patriots Tea Party, now the Puget Sound Patriots.

And Morgan is a former leader in the Freedom Foundation, the organization that had birthed the political career of now Kitsap County Republican Party Chair Juliana McMahan.

Juliana McMahan, the Freedom Foundation, and the State Policy Network

If John Cameron represents the insurrectionist impulse in the coalition that overtook the Kitsap GOP, Juliana McMahan highlights the ability of far-rightists to ally their cause with activists in broader conservative and libertarian organizations alongside the movement of these larger organizations in the direction of politicized bigotry and the far right during the period of the Trump Administration.

Kitsap County GOP Chair Juliana McMahan

Juliana McMahan was a longtime staffer at the anti-labor Freedom Foundation and is currently listed as an Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Strategy at the State Policy Network, a Virginia-based group that supports a national network of state-level conservative, libertarian, and far-right “think tanks.”

McMahan reports taking a job with the Freedom Foundation in December 1996. Her State Policy Network biography says, “She spent almost 19 years with the Freedom Foundation in Washington state, starting as an intern during the organization’s start-up years and eventually serving as Development Director, managing over 5,000 donors.”[20]

Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) records indicate that, over the years, McMahan listed her position with the Freedom Foundation as Coordinator, Staff, Project Director, and, beginning in 2012, Outreach Director.[21] McMahan posted on Facebook that she left a job with the Freedom Foundation in 2014. However, as late as June 2021, the Olalla-based activist described her occupation as Freedom Foundation Outreach Director in PDC documents.[22]

Befitting a background with the Freedom Foundation, an organization centered on the business politics of attacking trade unions, privatization, and gutting environmental regulations, an apparent factor in McMahan’s rise in the Kitsap GOP is the path of generous donations.

Between 2007 and 2023, McMahan made at least 43 separate donations totaling more than $6500 to the Kitsap County Republican Party, according to PDC records. In addition, McMahan donated another $1774.88 to local and state candidates.[23]

In her time with the Freedom Foundation, McMahan promoted the group’s work on gun rights and, long before election denial became far-right vogue, promoted the group’s 2013 tour to address “how special interests work to rig elections here in Washington State.”[24]

Juliana McMahan is currently listed as an Executive Assistant to Lynn Harsh, the Vice President of Strategy for the Arlington, Virginia-based State Policy Network (SPN).[25] The SPN took in between $10.3 and $16.9 million each year between 2016 and 2020, ending 2020 with some $12.9 million in assets.[26] The Freedom Foundation is an official affiliate of the State Policy Center, as is the Seattle, Washington-based Washington Policy Center. [27]

The State Policy Network and its Washington affiliates have mainly focused on the politics of unfettering “free market” capitalism, attacking trade unions and gutting environmental regulations. SPN’s issue profile includes pushing school vouchers and privatization, fighting efforts to repeal right-to-work laws, deregulating healthcare, tax cuts, and generally deregulating economic institutions.[28] The Freedom Foundation has relentlessly campaigned to deploy the Supreme Court’s anti-labor Janus v. AFSCME decision as a battering ram against public sector unions.

In keeping with its property rights focus, the Freedom Foundation has also been known for anti-tribal politics. For example, in 2007, the Freedom Foundation hosted Skagit County anti-Indian activist John Fleming at its Leadership Conference. Fleming is notorious in the state for having led the passage of a tribal termination resolution at the 2000 Washington State Republican Party convention. During his time with the Freedom Foundation, Glen Morgan continued this anti-Indian tradition, opposing the exemption of the sovereign Chehalis Tribe from county taxation during the construction of the Great Wolf Lodge on tribal lands.

McMahan’s movement into this far right coalition came as such groups also engaged with the politics of bigotry. In recent years the SPN has taken up the far right cause against the myth of “critical race theory.” SPN also boasts far right affiliates such as the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a group that participated in COVID Denial mobilizations, including at least one involving paramilitary activists; and the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an anti-immigrant organization currently working on a national coalition with the notoriously racist Federation for American Immigration Reform.[29]

Likewise the Freedom Foundation, whose  Pennsylvania Outreach Director Joe Mandrusiak is an ardent supporter of anti-gay bigot Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council (FRC). In 2019, the Freedom Foundation played host to anti-gay bigot Mike Huckabee.

Also that year Oregon State Representative Mike Nearman assumed the position of Oregon state director for the organization.[30] While a state legislator, the one-time board member for the anti-immigrant Oregonians for Immigration Reform, pleaded guilty to first-degree official misconduct for allowing members of a far-right and armed mob into the locked Oregon state Capital during a riot. Nearman would resign from the Freedom Foundation in 2021.[31] However, as of this writing, Nearman remains listed as a “Senior Fellow,” and his articles remain available, on the Freedom Foundation website.[32]

McMahan’s political donations also hint at an interest in the politics of bigotry and the far right. In June 2009, McMahan donated $100 to Protect Marriage Washington (PMW).[33] In that year, Protect Marriage Washington mobilized to place Referendum 71 on the ballot in an attempt to derail a recently passed law recognizing domestic partner status for same-sex couples – that is, PMW sought to overturn the established right of such couples to visit their loved one in the hospital, take medical leave, pass down inheritances, and the like.[34]

Given the bigotry and discrimination inherent in such a position, it is entirely unsurprising that one leader of Protect Marriage Washington in 2009 was Matt Shea, the former state legislator,  Christian nationalist paramilitary advocate, anti-Muslim bigot, and anti-LGBTQIA leader who was removed from the GOP House caucus and his committees after a report commissioned by the state house concluded that Shea had promoted “three armed conflicts of political violence against the United States” from 2014 to 2016.

Also indicating an attraction to the far right, in November 2022, McMahan donated $100 to a candidate for sheriff, Rick Scott Kuss, running openly as an “active member” of the far-right Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.[35]

Rick Kuss, CSPOA, and the Kitsap GOP

If Tea Party precursors, COVID denial, conspiracism, election denial, a school-centered far right, and alliances with the likes of the State Policy Network and Freedom Foundation had paved the way for the growth of the far right in Kitsap county, the immediate push for a local GOP takeover was aided by Rick Kuss’ failed bid for the office of sheriff. Kuss lost to sitting Sheriff John Gese, who took 58.5% of the vote  (70,628 votes) compared to the CSPOA-affiliated candidate’s 41.4 (50,875 votes).[36]

While speaking at a meeting of the Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners (KAPO) during his campaign, Rick Kuss downplayed his relationship with CSPOA, claiming that it was just one of several groups he joined “to learn the most I can about the role of the sheriff.” Members of the far-right property rights group booed and tried to talk down a community member who raised concerns about Kuss’ involvement in a group tied to racism and paramilitarism.[37]

A cursory look at Kuss’ engagement with CSPOA and the far right demonstrates that his spin was just that – spin. Rick Kuss is a local leader in a far-right, anti-democratic political movement.

John Cameron (left) with Rick Kuss (right)

Kuss’ initial campaign website announced he was an “Active Member of the Constitutional Sheriffs & Peace Officers Association.”[38] In September, an updated version of Kuss’ campaign website elaborated:

“Rick stands for carrying out the oath elected officials swear to – Supporting and Defending the Constitution of the United States of America…That is why Rick is a member of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.”[39]

The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association is a profoundly anti-democratic organization with well-documented ties to racism, anti-semitism, and the Oath Keepers—the far-right paramilitary group whose leaders were recently convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Rick Kuss’ notion that someone who supports the Constitution might reflect that by joining CSPOA is patently absurd. Richard Mack and CSPOA trainers espouse far-right ideas about the U.S. Constitution, policing, and federal civil and voting rights that are incompatible with a democratic society. For example, CSPOA falsely claims that sheriffs can unilaterally decide the law and intervene to block federal authority – including, as Mack indicates, through the use of armed paramilitaries. Mack has made clear that his “interpretation” would overturn decades of duly-passed national legislation, including laws related to civil rights enforcement, workplace safety, and environmental protection.

Kuss also attended a CSPOA event in mid-July of 2022. On July 14, Kuss wrote on his campaign Facebook account that he “had the privilege of attending a conference with sheriffs from all across the country.” Describing that he “gained many personal contacts” at the event, he said, “The role of the Sheriff is way more important than most people think. Contact me to host a fundraiser event…and I can talk as long as you want me to about crime in your area and what the role of the sheriff should be.” Kuss confirmed that this was a CSPOA event.[40]

On July 12, CSPOA held a press conference in Las Vegas to kick off a national campaign to organize far-right sheriffs to intervene in upcoming elections based on false ideas about voter fraud. CSPOA rescheduled its conference to coincide with the July 13-16 “Freedom Fest” in Las Vegas, where Mack again promoted CSPOA’s far-right “election fraud” campaign.[41]

And Rick Kuss has displayed his affinity for KrisAnne Hall, the CSPOA trainer whose  “legal” thinking has influenced Ammon Bundy’s insurrectionist People’s Rights network. Hall has also spuriously declared that the 14th, 15th, and 19th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution – cornerstones of American civil and voting rights – are “unlawful.”

KrisAnne Hall with Rick Kuss

In early December, Kuss announced he was “excited to attend the world premiere of NC2: The Sheriff in Tampa with KrisAnne Hall, JD.” In a comment on KrisAnne Hall’s Facebook page, Kuss wrote, “Registered for the event and purchased my plane tickets from Seattle to Tampa! Can’t wait!”[42] Kuss has also circulated material from KrisAnne Hall inside Moms for Liberty – Kitsap County, WA, the local chapter of the national far-right school-centered group.[43]

On December 14, Kuss posted a photograph on Facebook showing him standing with KrisAnne Hall, the far right candidate for sheriff adorned in a t-shirt declaring “Sheriffs America’s Last Hope” – a slogan similar to the title of Richard Mack’s 2009 book County Sheriff: America’s Last Hope.[44]  Upon his return, Kuss circulated links to KrisAnne Hall’s work on social media.[45]

Jessica Rice, COVID Denial, and the Posse

While Kuss gained the endorsement of the Kitsap County Republican Party, his Campaign Manager, Jessica Rice, is a Port Orchard-based activist with a firm foot in the far right.[46]

Kitsap GOP Secretary Jessica Rice

Like Kuss, Rice is a fan of KrisAnne Hall, posting multiple links to material from the Florida-based far-rightist. For example, one video posted to Facebook by Jessica Rice features Hall and her husband, J.C., discussing the idea of the “constitutional sheriff,” tracing it to the Medieval European “shire reef” and making crystal clear that this is the view espoused by the virulently racist, antisemitic and violent Posse Comitatus:

“Your sheriff. This is not KrisAnne Hall’s opinion; this is actual legal fact. Your sheriff is the top legal authority in your county. Your sheriff is above the governor, above your county commission, he’s above the state police, he’s above the president, he’s above the FBI, he’s above the military in your county. There is no higher authority, legally speaking, in your county than the sheriff.”[47]

In October 2022, Jessica Rice repeated this Posse-derived idea that the sheriff is “the highest law enforcement authority in our county.”[48]

This Posse Comitatus conception of sheriff’s power is included in the definition of “extremist organization” in Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) addressing officer certification and hiring: “Extremist organization means an organization or persons that…Espouses or advocates that the powers held by local law enforcement executives, and their interpretation of the law, supersedes those of any other federal, state, or local authority” (WAC 139-01-310).[49] A background check into “whether the applicant has any past or present affiliations with extremist organizations,” is required under state law for “all Washington peace officers and corrections officers” (RCW 43.101.095).[50]

Jessica Rice’s road to radicalization was paved by her reaction to measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic – something that reverberated across the far right. But it was not self-evident at the beginning. In April 2020, for instance, Rice posted a meme appearing to endorse the idea of wearing a mask to protect one another from the pandemic.[51]

Rice’s move toward COVID denial activism came in response to school shutdowns and the use of remote learning to address the pandemic. In June 2020, Rice posted a video featuring long-time anti-tax activist Tim Eyeman declaring that “we need to let our governor know that we want our kids back in school.”[52] By that same month, Rice had joined Reopen WA state schools and was sponsoring an online petition to “Allow families and staff in LOW-RISK groups that choose to do so return to full-time IN-CLASS instruction WITHOUT MANDATORY MASKS.”[53]

In October 2020, Rice promoted an event to press school athletic directors to reopen sports activities and other COVID denial-related events.[54] Despite later boosting the work of KrisAnne Hall, a far-right activist that would advise a Trump administration official on immigration, Rice also posted an article about the Trump administration’s family separation policies targeting immigrants that would include the comment, “The Kidnapper-in-Chief does not give a shit.”[55]

Rice’s involvement in local COVID-related activism grew across 2021 and 2022. By 2021 Rice joined Moms for Liberty – Kitsap County, WA, and the Central Kitsap Parents for Freedom.[56] Also that year, Rice became an administrator for the Parents of Washington South Kitsap SD.[57]  In 2022, Rice joined ReOpen Kitsap.[58]

In November, John Cameron posted photos of himself, Rick Kuss, and Jessica Rice working together on campaign activities. Cameron described, “Patriots are rising up to help. Calling voters is our final action item. And we need YOUR help! We can set you up wherever in the country you are.”[59]

John Cameron, Rick Kuss, Jessica Rice and others campaign together

Akin to Kuss and Rice’s affinities, in 2020 Bremerton Representative for the Kitsap GOP, Adrian Wright, posted a photograph of himself with a CSPOA-affiliated former law officer and failed candidate for governor, Loren Culp. Culp received CSPOA’s “Chief of Police of the Decade” award at the group’s 2019 conference. Wright wrote of Culp, “I like his strong identity with the WA St Constitution!”[60]

Adrian Wright with Loren Culp

From Failed Election to Hand Counts to the Kitsap GOP

Rick Kuss’ post-election mobilizations also aided the far-right ascendance in the Kitsap GOP. In November, Kuss organized an event to counter County Commission discussions of a potential restriction on “open and concealed carry in Kitsap County Admin Building” and plans to potentially “restrict possession, sale, purchase, or trade firearms at Faigrounds (sic).” Putting his star first, he billed the event as “COME JOIN RICK KUSS TO FIGHT FOR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.”[61] And Kuss took to assailing the Kitsap County prosecutor as soft on crime.[62]

His most visible action came when five individuals submitted a letter to the Kitsap County Auditor’s office and paid a $31,000 cash deposit for a hand recount of “all votes cast in the 2022 General Election for Kitsap County Sheriff.”[63]

Kuss and the group downplayed the relationship of their effort to the broader election denial organizing taking place across the country. And Kuss downplayed his own role in the hand recount campaign.

Queried by The Kitsap Sun as to whether people might view the recount as a denying the election results, Kuss responded that he hoped not, “Because that’s not what it is…This is me on the sidelines watching concerned citizens verify the results…My expectation is the hand recount will match the tabulation count…I would expect that to match perfectly.”[64]

Contradicting himself, Kuss informed the paper that he was involved in fundraising for the project, something never on the sidelines of political activism. Kuss’ efforts included promoting a GiveSendGo fundraising effort for the recount and showing the Breitbart movie “My Son Hunter” as a fundraiser for the “Kitsap Voter Integrity Project.”[65]

The Kitsap “hand count” effort also mimicked other efforts, such as those ongoing in Arizona and the actions of CSPOA-affiliated Michigan Sheriff Dar Leaf, by focusing their “concerns” on voting machines. The fundraiser says, “We want to look closely at whether the results of the machine will match 100% with the hand count. If it doesn’t, it will mean your vote does not matter and this voting system needs to be put into question.”[66]

Pressing for hand recounts has also been a strategy of election deniers in Arizona, even in the face of at least two studies finding hand recounts less accurate than machine recounts.[67]

Others with more open election denial politics also joined the effort. This includes Chuck DeCosta, listed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Puget Sound Patriots—an organization that donated $1000 to Kuss’ campaign and supported the far right “slate” for the Kitsap GOP, according to John Cameron. The Puget Sound Patriots had hosted a showing of the widely debunked election denial video, 2000 Mules, declaring it a “Great documentary to watch and see one of the many ways to steal your vote… Where are the Indictments??? Very good question.”[68]

Chuck DeCosta of Puget Sound Patriots, formerly Kitsap Patriots Tea Party

Chuck DeCosta posted memes, with zero backing evidence, stating that Jill Biden had “ordered the count to stop in 2020 because Trump was too far ahead!” and defending Donald Trump’s statement that 2020 election fraud justified the “termination” of “rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” DeCosta also promoted the Kitsap Voter Integrity Project fundraiser pushed by Kuss.[69]

And the Kitsap County Republican Party wholeheartedly endorsed the hand recount.[70]

John Cameron is now Vice Chair of the Kitsap County Republican Party. He shares a place on the party’s Executive Board with Rick Kuss and Jessica Rice, both ensconced in the activism shaped by the ideology of the Posse Comitatus. And they have gained a friend in the State Policy Network.

As this article goes to press, the Kitsap County Republican Party and John Cameron are engaged in a mobilization to counter an upcoming Drag Show Story Hour in Port Orchard, a political target seen across the far right from Tea Party-style and MAGA activists to white nationalists and neo-Nazis.[71]

All who care about democracy should take heed.

 

 

NOTES

 

[1] South Kitsap Republican Party. Facebook. December 10, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/skrepublicans/posts/482635020605627/

[2] South Kitsap Republican Party. Facebook. December 10, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/skrepublicans/posts/482635020605627/

[3] KING 5 Staff. Port Orchard man sentenced to 36 months of probation, fined for involvement in Capitol riot. KING 5. August 15, 2022. https://www.king5.com/article/news/crime/port-orchard-man-sentenced-capitol-riot-charges/281-490517cd-995d-4bed-a342-62fe05d7cb28; Associated Press. Man sentenced to probation for involvement in Capitol riot. Associated Press. August 16, 2022. https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-crime-washington-20eb5942a475d1258b7799ed27395131; South Kitsap Republican Party. Members. https://www.facebook.com/groups/skrepublicans/members. Accessed December 15, 2022.

[4] U.S. v John M. Cameron. United States District Court. December 12, 2021. Case 1:21-mj-00690.; https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/John%20Cameron%20Criminal%20Complaint.pdf; Kamb, Lewis. Port Orchard man becomes 12th Washington resident charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The Seattle Times. January 6, 2022. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/port-orchard-man-becomes-12th-washington-resident-charged-in-jan-6-capitol-riot/; Binion, Andrew. Port Orchard man pleads guilty to misdemeanor from Jan. 6 riots. Kitsap Sun. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/05/13/port-orchard-john-cameron-pleads-guilty-misdemeanor-jan-6-riots/9769463002/

[5] Binion, Andrew. Port Orchard man pleads guilty to misdemeanor from Jan. 6 riots. Kitsap Sun. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/05/13/port-orchard-john-cameron-pleads-guilty-misdemeanor-jan-6-riots/9769463002/

[6] Kamb, Lewis. Port Orchard man becomes 12th Washington resident charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The Seattle Times. January 6, 2022. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/port-orchard-man-becomes-12th-washington-resident-charged-in-jan-6-capitol-riot/; Binion, Andrew. Port Orchard man pleads guilty to misdemeanor from Jan. 6 riots. Kitsap Sun. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/05/13/port-orchard-john-cameron-pleads-guilty-misdemeanor-jan-6-riots/9769463002/

[7] Cameron, John. Facebook. January 6, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/johncameronhomes/posts/10224061860396292

[8] Cameron, John. Faceook. January 6, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/johncameronhomes/posts/10224060869051509

[9] Cameron, John. Facebook. January 6, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/johncameronhomes/posts/10226584973432541

[10] Cameron, John. Facebook. February 24, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0MWX7gPHM3mZspohDkLdBZyyJmmLPt5JeuExpBvzQHtt7VLH8HHkfB9Px87JGAjyFl&id=100077164721403

[11] Informed Parents of Washington South Kitsap SD. Facebook. Members. https://www.facebook.com/groups/254127036499306/members/admins; Central Kitsap Parents for Freedom. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/152590543618013/members; Moms for Liberty – Kitsap County, WA. Facebook. Members. https://www.facebook.com/groups/moms4libertykitsapwa/members; Cameron, John. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/826665318226031/user/1292838119/. Accessed January 6, 2022.

 

[12] Informed Parents of Washington South Kitsap SD. About. https://www.facebook.com/groups/254127036499306/. Accessed January 1, 2022.

[13] Cameron, John. Facebook. September 2, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/groups/826665318226031/user/1292838119/

[14] Cameron, John. Facebook. Posted in Informed Parents of Washington South Kitsap SD. November 9, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/groups/254127036499306/posts/374249741153701/

[15] Cameron, John. Facebook. January 25, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/johncameronhomes/posts/10224226799599669

[16] Cameron, John. Facebook. December 4, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/johncameronhomes/posts/10226390300285834

[17] Cameron, John. Facebook. Posted in South Kitsap Republican Party. December 10, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/skrepublicans/posts/482056647330131/; Cameron, John. Facebook. Posted in South Kitsap Republican Party. November 5, 2022.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/skrepublicans/posts/458791779656618/; Ballotpedia. Emily Randall. https://ballotpedia.org/Emily_Randall. Accessed December 16, 2022; Puget Sound Patriots. About/Contact. https://kitsappatriots.wordpress.com/about/. Accessed March 15, 2023.

[18] Culp, Loren. Facebook. May 6, 2020. https://m.facebook.com/107506870587683/photos/a.132920628046307/243284753676560/?type=3

[19] Citizens Alliance for Property Rights. Webinars. June 4, 2020. https://capr.us/webinars. Opening the show,  Morgan said to Songer, “And you were also given an award recently as the 2019 Constitutional Sheriff of the Year Award by the Constitutional Sheriff (sic) and Police (sic) Officers Association.” Songer answered, “Yeah, by Sheriff Richard Mack.” Morgan responded, “By Sheriff Mack, ok, great…So, you are the kind of sheriff we all like to discuss these some of these topics with. And as an organization dedicated to Constitutional principles, especially around, uh, a focus on property rights.” Morgan wrapped up the show by telling Songer, “I know that probably a number of our listeners and people who see this show wish that you were their sheriff too.”

[20] State Policy Network. SPN Staff. Juliana McMahan. https://spn.org/staffer/juliana-mcmahan/. Accessed March 10, 2023. ; McMahan, Juliana. Facebook. December 2, 1996. https://www.facebook.com/Juliana.McMahan/posts/462229237176134

[21] Public Disclosure Commission. Contributions. Search for Juliana McMahan. https://www.pdc.wa.gov/political-disclosure-reporting-data/browse-search-data/contributions. Search conducted March 10, 2023.

[22] Kitsap County Republican Party. Cash Receipts Monetary Contributions. Public Disclosure Commission. March 30, 2019; McMahan, Juliana. Facebook. January 21, 2014. https://www.facebook.com/Juliana.McMahan/posts/10151633886752434; Kitsap County Republican Party. Cash Receipts Monetary Contributions. Public Disclosure Commission. June 17, 2021. https://web.pdc.wa.gov/rptimg/default.aspx?repno=110029662

[23] Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Contributions. Search on “Juliana McMahan” conducted March 13, 2023. https://www.pdc.wa.gov/political-disclosure-reporting-data/browse-search-data/contributions

[24] McMahan, Juliana. Facebook. October 28, 2013. https://www.facebook.com/Juliana.McMahan/posts/10151633886752434; McMahan, Juliana. Facebook. June 4, 2013. https://www.facebook.com/Juliana.McMahan/posts/10151376642522434

[25] State Policy Network. Staff. Juliana McMahan. https://spn.org/staffer/juliana-mcmahan/. Accessed March 13, 2023.

[26] ProPublica. Nonprofit Explorer. State Policy Network. Tax Filings by Year. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/570952531. Accessed March 15, 2023.

[27] State Policy Network. The Network. Washington. https://spn.org/directory/#WA. Accessed March 13, 2023.

[28] State Policy Network. 12 WAYS THE PRO ACT WILL HURT AMERICAN WORKERS. March 3, 2021. https://spn.org/articles/pro-act-2021-will-hurt-workers/; State Policy Network. Solutions for States: Education Reform. https://spn.org/state-education-reforms/; State Policy Network. Solutions for States: Healthcare Reforms. https://spn.org/state-healthcare-reforms/Accessed March 13, 2023; State Policy Network. Reform Opportunities for States: Growing Jobs and Economies. https://spn.org/state-based-economic-reforms/. Accessed March 13, 2023.

[29] State Policy Network. The Network. https://spn.org/directory/. Accessed March 15, 2023; Federation for American Immigration Reform. Strongest-Ever Assembled Coalition Calls for Immediate Consideration of a Flagship Border Security Bill in the 118th Congress. May 11, 2022. https://www.fairus.org/press-releases/border-security/strongest-ever-assembled-coalition-calls-immediate-consideration

[30] Freedom Foundation. Press Release. MIKE NEARMAN TO DIRECT FREEDOM FOUNDATION IN OREGON. August 7, 2019. https://www.freedomfoundation.com/oregon/mike-nearman-to-direct-freedom-foundation-in-oregon/

[31] VanderHart, Dirk. Former Rep. Mike Nearman pleads guilty to official misconduct in Oregon Capitol incursion. Oregon Public Broadcasting. July 27, 2021. https://www.opb.org/article/2021/07/27/former-oregon-rep-mike-nearman-guilty-plea-salem-capitol-incursion/

[32] Freedom Foundation. Mike Nearman. https://www.freedomfoundation.com/author/mnearman/. Accessed March 14, 2023;  Mapes, Jeff. Oregon State Representative Takes Job With Anti-Union Group. Oregon Public Broadcasting. August 7, 2019. https://www.opb.org/news/article/mike-nearman-freedom-foundation/

[33] Public Disclosure Commission. Cast Receipts Monetary Contributions. Protect Marriage Washington. June 26, 2009. https://web.pdc.wa.gov/rptimg/default.aspx?repno=100313861

[34] Sledd, James. Washington Politics: Support domestic partnership, R-71. Whitman Wire. September 27, 2009. https://whitmanwire.com/opinion/columnists/2009/09/27/support-referendum-71/; Capital Hill Seattle Blog Staff. The Fight for Referendum 71. Capital Hill Seattle Blog. Octobe 27, 2009. https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2009/10/the-fight-for-referendum-71/

[35] Richard S. Kuss (Rick Kuss). Cash Receives Monetary Contributions. November 4, 2022. https://apollo.pdc.wa.gov/public/registrations/campaign-finance-report/110124943

[36] Binion, Andrew. Group backing GOP candidate pays $31K for hand recount of loss in Kitsap sheriff’s race. Kitsap Sun. December 2, 2022. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/12/03/hand-recount-gop-loss-kitsap-sheriffs-race/69697609007/; Kitsap Sun. Kitsap County Local Election Results. November 18, 2022. https://www.kitsapsun.com/elections/results/local/

[37] Candidate for Sheriff Rick Kuss at KAPO debate, Bremerton WA. YouTube. 1 month ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMz4ILy9hI0. Accessed December 15, 2022.

[38] Rick Kuss for Kitsap County Sheriff. https://www.protectingandserving.com/. Accessed July 15, 2022

[39] Election Rick Kuss Sheriff (R) Kitsap County. https://www.protectingandserving.com/. Accessed September 7, 2022

[40] Rick Kuss for Kitsap County Sheriff. Facebook. July 14, 2022.    https://www.facebook.com/VoteRick4Sheriff/posts/pfbid0tQKSbZEQjdCD8Dkctx86QTok8BGfrMJta5Scr6ivhQhxC5fhyZwmH46ZCnTG2qKcl

[41] Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. CSPOA Strongly Encourages Sheriffs and Local Law Enforcement to Investigate Alleged Election Fraud in Their Jurisdictions. https://cspoa.org/press-release-urgent-cspoa-2022-calling-all-americans-and-law-enforcement/. Accessed September 16, 2022; Stone, Peter. Rightwing sheriffs’ groups ramp up drives to monitor US midterm elections. The Guardian. August 17, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/17/rightwing-sheriffs-trump-midterm-elections-voting-arizona.

[42] Kuss, Rick. Facebook. December 5, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/VoteRick4Sheriff/posts/pfbid0sofH6UGZ5yf6NAvM9wL6jckY6JNtdJLNr1cghHNpu84sfS1xUVkDEigajoUNK5p5l; KrisAnne Hall, JD. Facebook. December 4, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/krisanne.hall/posts/pfbid032QK7WdVLbBVRiotcF2aKwZTaYehobKcU6GvdDK2Lj4oWEax7To5CEx9E6JsUNEbAl

[43] Kuss, Rick Scott. Facebook. Posted in Moms for Liberty – Kitsap County. August 22, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/moms4libertykitsapwa/posts/1081349079424319/

[44] Kuss, Rick. Facebook. December 14, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/VoteRick4Sheriff/posts/pfbid0w2jzBzXVn6TXiaLUd5ZVU6qP7LcfNEvFc4qggq5nExYdYRCxAoHXomJYvvt8x71Ul

[45] Rick Scott Kuss. Facebook. January 6, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/RickKuss/posts/pfbid088oPcqQAqo9UFnkRgH9bN9rwgGTm1HRE5sc1cMWst5AEL6zQyZ8AdQSVWoenJFd4l

[46] Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Committee to Elect Rick Kuss for Sheriff. Summary, Full Report Receipts and Expenditures. September 1, 2022 to October 17, 202l2. https://apollo.pdc.wa.gov/public/registrations/campaign-finance-report/110120295

[47] Kris Ann Hall Who is your Sheriff – Protector of Your Rights. 4 months ago. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.onenewspage.com/video/20220808/14737427/Kris-Ann-Hall-Who-is-your-Sheriff.htm; Rice, Jessica. Facebook. September 23, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/jessica.wemhoff.9/posts/pfbid02JBiM5rDXTPFpEQzEdLErJunkBFqcwig5ZFCHnY6Xnkqv1f3LbWybQGgsNo3bi1bql

[48] Rice, Jessica. Facebook. October 26, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1157473458483640&set=pcb.1157475605150092

[49] Washington Administrative Codes. WAC 139-01-310. https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=139-01-310; [50] Revised Code of Washington. RCW 43.101.095. https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=43.101.095

[51] Rice, Jessica. Facebook. April 30, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/jessica.wemhoff.9/posts/pfbid0wMnnMk9pMBHojwHs3REz9jrr4RqVkUVpLSpbGX7CQcj4KtTUTe7s545zJajWfBBDl

[52] Rice, Jessica. Facebook. June 5, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/jessica.wemhoff.9/posts/pfbid0WsjMkTLLm7XgNrkcAGbUSEQYDcjZmHNQrcVWZSE3iH9f7RtimhTB6wEBxbu9SB7Vl

[53] Rice, Jessica. Facebook. June 5, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/jessica.wemhoff.9/posts/pfbid0WsjMkTLLm7XgNrkcAGbUSEQYDcjZmHNQrcVWZSE3iH9f7RtimhTB6wEBxbu9SB7Vl; Rice, Jessica. Central Kitsap School District: let kids return to school in the fall. https://www.change.org/p/central-kitsap-school-district-let-kids-return-to-school-in-the-fall-without-masks. Accessed March 9, 2023; Rice, Jessica. Facebook. June 11, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/jessica.wemhoff.9/posts/pfbid038AmK1GptXZTEzUyHoHpN6ocNMNqNVWy55QgtTNAU7mhcVqKSsaXJXbLVuRh7Fzaol

[54] Rice, Jessica. Facebook. October 6, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/jessica.wemhoff.9/posts/pfbid0931A2woYSTkaSu7EACRVd9R26PnFyBkBK7wTzzMR6s5E8yVk4tvXVXr5QRX6Xa4Cl

[55] Rice, Jessica. October 20, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/jessica.wemhoff.9/posts/pfbid0YbsonJRg5Lni22dfGYsAkBrFqmuDd62VTz6zkvG1cjC4B6knytLwnhhDoEiLq2cyl

[56] Rice, Jessica. Facebook. Posted in Moms for Liberty – Kitsap County, WA. January 4, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/groups/826665318226031/user/100026629909122/; Rice, Jessica. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/152590543618013/user/100026629909122/

[57] Rice, Jessica. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/254127036499306/user/100026629909122/

[58] ReOpen Kitsap. Facebook. Members. https://www.facebook.com/groups/522935218372361/members.  Accessed March 9, 2023

[59] Cameron, John. Facebook. Posted in South Kitsap Republican Party. November 5, 2022.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/skrepublicans/posts/458791779656618/; Cameron, John. Facebook. November 6, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=183490997566390&set=g.449432420592554

[60] Wright, Adrian. Facebook. September 2020. https://www.facebook.com/wrightamw/posts/779572389772870:779572389772870; Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. CSPOA 2019 Conference Report. Newsletter. September 2019. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/October-2019-CSPOA-Conference-Report.html; Wright, Adrian. Facebook. January 18, 2018. https://www.facebook.com/wrightamw/posts/pfbid0ipZWZtHsrbocCkXTfSrpbU8GEr55G677Mggv1dhK56v2z2tVeVLiFyuUEYBhcBLel

[61] Kuss, Rick. Facebook. November 14, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/VoteRick4Sheriff/posts/pfbid02G733efbTmSTGU5rwBKUg7ooeTwwkpD7MgBpa66AnDdvus3HG2qCscDRfZh9kA3eul

[62] Kuss, Rick. Facebook. December 15, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/VoteRick4Sheriff/posts/pfbid02P6KTb7p7LiohAjkooSpXjkQkhfvgiYok5WpxDMMve1wBLVQ8n7qegFEjcfSfjdSil; Kuss, Rick. Facebook. December 14, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/VoteRick4Sheriff/posts/pfbid02EZGbLRbj3TPnc5AfmLnSADysw4rbiTginwRWFYZoH1Ki6m42msdi1hLZupqmMVEdl

[63] Binion, Andrew. Group backing GOP candidate pays $31K for hand recount of loss in Kitsap sheriff’s race. Kitsap Sun. December 2, 2022. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/12/03/hand-recount-gop-loss-kitsap-sheriffs-race/69697609007/; Application for Hand Recount submitted to Kitsap County Auditor’s Office. November 30, 2022.

[64] Binion, Andrew. Group backing GOP candidate pays $31K for hand recount of loss in Kitsap sheriff’s race. Kitsap Sun. December 2, 2022. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/12/03/hand-recount-gop-loss-kitsap-sheriffs-race/69697609007/

[65] Kuss, Rick. Facebook. December 7, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/VoteRick4Sheriff/videos/5447834751991682/; Kuss, Rick. Facebook. November 30, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/VoteRick4Sheriff/posts/pfbid02hsgiiNu1S13tndNKR1BpfxF7mHTz65ZVCBVPoK2nMXChYjEkY7oF32k6vR4B32hml

[66] Supporting Hand Recount for Election Integrity. GiveSendGo. December 5, 2022 Update. https://www.givesendgo.com/recountkitsap. Accessed December 9, 2022. William Campbell, the Bremerton-based designated chair of the group provided a written statement to the Kitsap Sun and stated,

“I don’t think the county can provide a copy of the software that can be analyzed by software engineers, so a hand recount is one check we can commission to verify that the tabulating machines did in fact tally the votes correctly.” Binion, Andrew. Group backing GOP candidate pays $31K for hand recount of loss in Kitsap sheriff’s race. Kitsap Sun. December 2, 2022. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2022/12/03/hand-recount-gop-loss-kitsap-sheriffs-race/69697609007/; Application for Hand Recount submitted to Kitsap County Auditor’s Office. November 30, 2022.

[67] Ansolabehere, Stephen, Burden, Barry C., Mayer, Kenneth R. and Charles Stewart III. 2018. Learning from Recounts. Election Law Journal. Vol 12 (2), p.100-116; Ansolabehere, Stephen and Andrew Reeves. Using Recounts to Measure the Accuracy of Vote Tabulations: Evidence from New Hampshire Elections 1946-2002. CALTECH/MIT VOTING TECHNOLOGY PROJECT.

[68] Puget Sound Patriots. About/Contact. https://kitsappatriots.wordpress.com/about/. Accessed December 16, 2022; Puget Sound Patriots. Latest News. https://kitsappatriots.wordpress.com/latest-local-news/. Accessed December 16, 2022.; Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Committee to Elect Rick Kuss for Sheriff. Cash Receipts Monetary  Contributions. https://apollo.pdc.wa.gov/public/registrations/campaign-finance-report/110113527. Accessed December 16, 2022.

[69] DeCosta, Chuck. December 7, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rbScGX7Qww1QDmQUgPs5cRMpL1EJFYwM6Q3fqfUrPc9HMSADdMXnjgZ6d4BRGbwbl&id=100013578827540; DeCosta, Chuck. Facebook. December 6, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0cg42fRFkwaMQ35GGAv6VSLfZR6fcJ39362PA5uRHW9UPzjyMmJsQYtTf33Ctuho1l&id=100013578827540; DeCosta, Chuck. Facebook. December 4, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02BgBHeLrYdqvMPs3oXuGnkA9BmYBb3Qv3TWaYpvzFuXQMMRdeptfvPw9MHzVpFBnrl&id=100013578827540

[70] Kitsap County Republican Party. Facebook. December 7, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/KitsapGOP/posts/pfbid0y5Eby844u7BjDQ6S6EUeoz35q3kD2K6SCCwkBa2q35hjxhuLZV8CxMZ8PGmZsjMml

[71] Kitsap County Republican Party. Events. https://www.facebook.com/events/523004330004680/. Accessed March 23, 2023; Cameron, John. Facebook. Posted in South Kitsap Republican Party. March 21, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/groups/skrepublicans/posts/545655324303596/;

 

 

The post Far-Rightists Take Control of Kitsap County, Washington GOP appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s Executive Director, Devin Burghart, was quoted in The Independent;

Author Alex Woodward writes, “The Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights has reviewed three distinct “waves” of online far-right activity in the wake of Mr Trump’s call for protests, starting with the amplification of his demands, followed by claims that they are a “trap” set by law enforcement, according to the institute’s executive director Devin Burghart.”

Read more here

The post IREHR in the Independent: “Far-right support for Trump protests looks disorganised on social media. Others think it’s a trap” – March 24, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s Executive Director, Devin Burghart, was quoted in Reuters;

“Following Trump’s call for protest, we’ve documented three fairly distinct waves of responses on far-right social media,” said Devin Burghart

“Wave one was a call to attention for Trump loyalty rallies. Almost immediately thereafter there was a second wave of, ‘Don’t protest, it’s a trap just like January 6th,’ that really overtook the first,” Burghart said.

“Most have moved to a third position where they have moved to supporting the Trump rally in Waco next weekend as a sort of compromise,” Burghart added.

Read more here

The post IREHR in Reuters: “Far-right activists wary of ‘trap’ after Trump calls for protests” – March 20, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR was cited in the Chicago Tribune;

Authors Rick Pearson and Jeremy Gorner write, “Citing emails it obtained from several county sheriff offices, the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, a group that tracks white supremacist organizations, said Kaitschuk passed on information to sheriffs about the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association event in Springfield.”

Read more here

The post IREHR in the Chicago Tribune: “Illinois sheriffs’ opposition to enforcing weapons ban signals rightward movement about constitutional authority” – March 19, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s report, Breaching the Mainstream, was cited in a Letter to the Editor of the Sequim Gazette;

Gayle Brauner writes, “Ten legislators from various state governments had been found to belong to the Oath Keepers (“Breaching the Mainstream,” irehr.org) — whose group members committed seditious conspiracy for the Jan. 6 insurrection. Many others follow right-wing extremist groups on Facebook.”

Read more here

The post IREHR in the Sequim Gazette: “Letters to the Editor: Knowledge is prevention.” – March 15, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

Author and Researcher, Jessica Pishko, cited IREHR’s work and research on the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA);

Pishko writes, “Martin also emailed the sheriffs association and individual sheriffs, encouraging them to attend the CSPOA event. (The Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights – IREHR – did a great deal of research on tracking the background for this event, and I am indebted to them for the research.)”

Pishko continues, “The IREHR sent letters to each sheriff’s office in the state as well as lawmakers, urging them to condemn the CSPOA event. At least one legislator issued a statement arguing that the CSPOA event was an example of far-right activity on par with the Oath Keepers.”

Read more here

The post IREHR in Jessica Pishko’s Newsletter: “The CSPOA Event That Wasn’t” – March 14, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

Not too long after our Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights grouping got together, we started hearing about the KTTL radio station out of Dodge City, Kansas, broadcasting daily one-hour racist and anti-Semitic programs. We looked into it and then wrote about it in our February 1983 magazine—40 years ago. They were all hooked up with a group called the Posse Comitatus.

James Wickstrom, from Wisconsin, was one of the Posse speakers. He called himself the National Director of Counter Insurgency. He might as well have called himself an insurgent because that is what he was. His “top man in Kansas,” Mike Ryan, killed two members of his own group in 1985 in Rulo, Nebraska.

Bill Gale, from California, told the radio audience that “All Jews should be dead” and other nonsense. Gale was actually the founder of the Posse Comitatus, according to Dan Levitas, who figured it out in his book The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right. He also found some very interesting things about Gale’s family background, but I’ll leave it to you, Dear Reader, to read his book and find out.

After the Kansas Posse “indicted” the state Attorney General we looked into it. “They advocate the killing of public officials and Jews,” he concluded. But, he said, they were not affiliated with the Klan.

We researched that last statement and found that David Duke, then head of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, had said, “We work with the Posse whenever we can…We get their material and funnel it to our groups.”

On February 13, 1983, a North Dakota farmer named Gordon Kahl killed two federal marshals in a roadside shootout in Medina, North Dakota. Kahl was a leader in the Posse Comitatus. His son Yorie Kahl and Scott Faul had guns and were involved in the shootout also. They had come from a meeting where they were organizing a “township.” This was a scheme for white men who had renounced their 14th Amendment citizenship rights and became sovereign citizens. It was a way, they thought, to avoid paying taxes and pursuing driver’s licenses.

With farmers in the early 1980s, high-interest rates and low commodity prices created a crisis in rural counties. The Posse Comitatus moved in with their answers: kill the Jews, become sovereign citizens, and engage in paramilitary training. Over the next few months, we sought to unearth the extent of the Posse problem. We published several groundbreaking pieces: “Right Wing Organizing Farmers,” “Posse Comitatus: Who Are these Tax Protestors,” “Posse Radio Stations Hits Snags,” “Gordon Kahl on the Run,” and “Three Convicted, One Acquitted in Posse / FBI Shootout.”  We even looked into their false theology, “Identity Church and  Radical Right.”

While we were still a small organization, we researched and wrote about topics that mattered. Soon we became a center for real answers. I started meeting with other people and working with them.

In June 1983, I got a phone call from Lynn Wells, the executive director of the National Anti-Klan Network in Atlanta. (It became the Center for Democratic Renewal two years later.) She had approached Tommy Kersey, the head of the American Agriculture Movement in Georgia, and asked him to sign on to an anti-Klan program. Kersey said sure, but have you heard of a guy named Lyndon LaRouche and his National Caucus of Labor Committees. “I like him,” Kersey said. Both Lynn and I knew that Lyndon LaRouche was no good, and we kept track of him just like we did of the Klan. The conversation with Kersey was stunning.

Lynn said she had asked around, and there was a farmer we should talk to up in Nebraska. She asked me if I would go and visit him. His name was Merle Hansen.

So I got in my 1972 Plymouth and drove up to Newman Grove, Nebraska, to visit with Merle. He was of my father’s generation and as nice as could be. I described the Posse Comitatus problem best I could, and Merle seemed to know exactly what I was talking about. Our afternoon conversation drifted off into a discussion of history, family, and social movements. When I left to go to Norfolk to stay the night with some peace activists, Merle said he would get me a bigger hearing among farmers.

In August 1983, I went to a rally at Cheney Lake Park outside Wichita. The advertisement in the back pages of the Spotlight weekly tabloid said it would be the Gordon Kahl Memorial Arts and Crafts Festival, but there were no arts or crafts. About fifty people were at this event, including a small contingent of farmers wearing American Agriculture Movement ball caps. But it showed me the core beliefs of the Posse Comitatus:  sovereign citizenship, Christian Identity, and funny constitutionalism. It also taught me something about the nature of research into white supremacy groups: you can read about and listen to everything you want, but until you are there in the middle of it, you don’t really understand it. That would become an important lesson over the next 40 years.

By the way, this small event was included in my book, Blood and Politics: The History of the White Nationalist Movement from the Margins to the Mainstream, published in 2009, which is still available for a donation of $25 or more.

In November 1983, I was invited to speak at the U.S. Farmers Association national meeting in Iowa. Merle Hansen had come through. There were two generations of farmers there: those our grandparent’s age and those about my age; about 150 in all. As I later found out, the farmers my age were anti-war veterans of Vietnam. The older generation was from during the Korean War and was peaceniks also. Sen. Gary Hart, hoping to win some traction during the Iowa primaries in 1984, spoke. He argued that the United States should develop a widespread program of selling—really dumping—food supplies in the developing world. Those farmers who talked opposed Hart’s proposal and said that this would undermine the domestic food production in these countries. It was imperialist policy, several added. My talk was well received, although no one suggested how to fight the Posse. One elderly farmer from Minnesota said that my talk sounded a lot like the Spanish Civil War during the 1930s.

After the conference, I went home to another day working for a living. I was glad to have met these farmers and knew that we would find a solution to the growing problem around us. And I will tell you about it one month from now.

Stay tuned.

The post Remembering Our Engagement with the Posse Comitatus appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s report, Ammon’s Army: Inside the Far Right ‘People’s Rights’ Network, was cited by Author Kelly Weill in Yahoo;

Kelly Weill writes, “That vigil had been promoted by the People’s Rights movement, a far-right network helmed by right-wing activist Ammon Bundy.” 

Weill continues, “A report from the group Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights lists Dortzbach as a People’s Rights organizer in its Utah 3 district.”

Read more here

The post IREHR in Yahoo: “Young Man Shot by Utah Police Was Tied to ‘Sovereign’ Movement” – March 13, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s Director, Devin Burghart, was quoted in the Daily Kos;

“For years now, among the white nationalist vanguardist-wing circulated the idea of ‘accelerationism’ — far-rightists targeting the country’s infrastructure as part of an imposing plan for white nationalist revolution and an authoritarian reset of society,” wrote Devin Burghart.

“Groups like the Atomwaffen Division and The Base are examples of this sort of white nationalist accelerationism. Both groups have had members arrested for plotting to attack infrastructure targets in the past couple of years. Last year, a 14-page manual circulated in accelerationist telegram channels that encouraged committed white nationalists to ‘strike a blow against the system,’ not by (Hunter-style) racist murders but by targeting things ‘that do the most damage to the system and spark revolution and chaos. The manual refers to the power grid as ‘the main thing that keeps the anti-White system going’ and calls power substations ‘sitting ducks, worthy prey’ that is ‘largely unprotected and often in remote locations,’ allowing for multiple attacks.” Said Devin Burghart

Read more here

The post IREHR in the Daily Kos: “Accelorationists Target Country’s Infrastructure to Advance White Nationalist Revolution” – March 9, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s Executive Director, Devin Burghart, was quoted in BuzzFlash by Author Bill Berkowitz;

“For years now, among the white nationalist vanguardist-wing circulated the idea of ‘accelerationism’ — far-rightists targeting the country’s infrastructure as part of an imposing plan for white nationalist revolution and an authoritarian reset of society,” said Devin Burghart

“Committing acts of friction and chaos in small cells are meant to facilitate complete societal collapse. In the aftermath, heavily armed far-right groups would be able to impose their vision for society onto a vulnerable and desperate population.” said Devin Burghart

Read more here

The post IREHR in BuzzFlash: “Bill Berkowitz for BuzzFlash: Accelerationists Target Country’s Infrastructure to Advance White Nationalist Revolution” – March 8, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR was cited in Yahoo! News;

Authors Chris D’Angelo and Christopher Mathias write, “He also was allegedly a member of Identity Evropa, a since-disbanded white supremacist group that had a large presence at the Charlottesville rally. The group practiced ‘entryism,’ which the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights describes as the strategy of ‘gaining a place in more mainstream organizations by moderating one’s appearance and expressed values in order to further movement goals.’”

Read more here

The post IREHR in Yahoo! News: “GOP Congressman Matt Rosendale Poses With Neo-Nazis” – March 6, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s Research Director, Chuck Tanner, had an article published in the Illinois Eagle. Some quotes from the article;

Chuck Tanner writes, “In announcing its March 4 training for law enforcement officers in Illinois, CSPOA CEO Sam Bushman described that one of the group’s strategies for growth is to host rallies with multiple organizations, explicitly naming the Christian Right Eagle Forum and the conspiracy-weaving John Birch Society as examples.[1]”

He continues on, “The host of CSPOA’s March 4 invitation-only event is Danny Banks, a Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist whose social media posts provide clues explaining his involvement with CSPOA.[2]”

Tanner writes, “Another CSPOA organizer on the ground in Illinois is Jennifer Martin, the activist who corresponded with the Illinois Sheriff’s Association Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk and whose message was sent to sheriffs around the state.”

Read more here

The post IREHR in the Illinois Eagle: “Roots in far right conspiracism: CSPOA on-the-ground in Illinois” – March 1, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s President, Devin Burghart, was quoted in America’s Voice;

“That was our biggest concern, that in essence, it was mainstreaming the same ideas that CSPOA had but was doing so with much more conscious branding and public-facing appeal,” said Devin Burghart.

Read more here

The post IREHR in America’s Voice: “New Backgrounder: GOP Witness and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb Promotes Dangerous Conspiracies” – February 28, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s Research Director, Chuck Tanner, had an article published in the Illinois Eagle. Some quotes from the article;

Chuck Tanner writes, “In the wake of dozens of Illinois sheriffs declaring their refusal to enforce a recently-passed gun law, the far-right Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) has stepped up a campaign to infiltrate Illinois law enforcement and galvanize far-right efforts across the state.”

He continues on, “Passed in January, the Protect Illinois Communities Act bars the manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, and delivery of assault weapons and attachments, 0.50 caliber rifles and cartridges, and large-capacity magazines.[1]”

Tanner writes, “On January 11, the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association (ISA), a state non-profit headed by Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk, issued a ‘Legislative Alert’ declaring that it had ‘OPPOSED this legislation throughout its development and REMAINS OPPOSED to the bill as passed.’”

Read more here

The post IREHR in the Illinois Eagle: “Far-right ‘Constitutional Sheriffs’ group launches effort to infiltrate Illinois law enforcement” – February 27, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

Dear legislator:

I write you today to ask you and your colleagues in the legislature to take bold and decisive action against a new danger. Recent reports indicate that an out-of-state group with ties to insurrectionists and white nationalists is attempting to infiltrate Illinois law enforcement, particularly county sheriffs. Using anger over the Protect Illinois Communities Act as vehicle, the so-called “Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association” (CSPOA) is coming to Illinois. The CSPOA has been identified by both the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center as an “anti-government extremist” group. In fact, CSPOA’s founder was also a founding board member of the Oath Keepers—the insurrectionist group whose leader was recently convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes.

Despite the well-documented concerns over CSPOA activity, two Illinois sheriffs (Jefferson County Sheriff Bullard and Macon County Sheriff Root) are co-sponsoring an upcoming CSPOA training in Springfield on March 4. They are recruiting others from across the region to attend.

At the event, sheriffs will be taught how they can ignore laws they don’t like, how they can “interpose” against other governmental agencies, and potentially even arrest the governor or other elected officials they feel aren’t supporting their view of the Constitution.

At a time when law enforcement and community relations are already strained, efforts of a far-right group to infiltrate law enforcement pose a grave and growing threat to both officers and department credibility. Left unchecked, this problem will metastasize and spread.

Swift action by the Illinois legislature is necessary to protect Illinois law enforcement from infiltration by groups like CSPOA, and ensure that all people of Illinois have equal protection under the law.

If there is anything we at IREHR can do, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Devin Burghart

Executive Director

IREHR

The post IREHR’s Letter to Illinois Legislators appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s President and Executive Director, Devin Burghart, was cited in the Daily Kos;

Author David Neiwert writes, “The key, as Devin Burghart of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights told CityLabs’ Laura Bliss, is for citizens to end their reflexive denial and recognize that they have a real problem on their hands. He noted that the candidates’ success began with repeatedly calling attention to their opponents’ affiliations with QAnon, as well as their excessive devotion to non-local issues, and was sealed by their strategic and energetic combined organizing and door-knocking during the campaign.”

Burghart was quoted as well;

“That combination is going to be a key for defeating far-right efforts to take over local government around the country,” he said.

Read more here

The post IREHR in the Daily Kos: “When extremists take over local Michigan governance, disruption is followed by dysfunction” – February 21, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

This article is the second in a multi-part series looking at the far-right Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) and other “Constitutional Sheriff” efforts to capitalize on the reaction by dozens of sheriffs in Illinois against a recently passed gun control law. In this article, IREHR looks at another feature of the Illinois campaign – the importance of CSPOA’s engagement with far-right groups and individuals that promote antisemitic conspiracism, bigotry, and religious nationalism.

Roots in Far Right Conspiracism: CSPOA On-the-Ground in Illinois

In announcing its March 4 training for law enforcement officers in Illinois, CSPOA CEO Sam Bushman described that one of the group’s strategies for growth is to host rallies with multiple organizations, explicitly naming the Christian Right Eagle Forum and the conspiracy-weaving John Birch Society as examples.[1]

Such a strategy is in keeping with CSPOA’s deep ties to the far right, including:

• Adding CSPOA board member Michael Peroutka, a former Maryland leader of the white nationalist League of the South.
• Sponsoring a 2021 national tour with Robert David Steele, a prolific purveyor of antisemitism.
• Boasting a long-standing relationship with the insurrectionist Oath Keepers, six leaders of which were recently convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in the January 6 insurrection.
• Using as a trainer KrisAnne Hall, a far-right “constitutionalist” who thinks the U.S. Constitution’s 14th, 15th, and 19th Amendments are “unlawful.”

CSPOA’s Richard Mack (second from right) with Oath Keepers’ national leader Stewart Rhodes (far right)

Similar far-right ties are found among the two lead organizers of CSPOA’s Illinois recruitment and radicalization drive.

Antisemitism, the Fed and the Satanic Conspiracy: Danny Banks

The host of CSPOA’s March 4 invitation-only event is Danny Banks, a Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist whose social media posts provide clues explaining his involvement with CSPOA.[2]

Danny Banks

In September 2022, Banks displayed his affinity for far-right banking conspiracies, posting a link assailing the Federal Reserve Bank and alleging that U.S. dollars were “counterfeit receipts” compared to silver dollars and silver-backed currency.[3] Banks’ post provided a  link to the “End the Fed” website, a platform alleging that Federal Reserve Bank,

“counterfeiting causes the price of goods and services to rise…finances the tools of the government’s oppression over you: the militarization of the police, the surveillance apparatus, and the endless wars…END THE FED! A free market, where each individual has the freedom to choose what form of money to use rather than one being forced on them, must be allowed to function in its place…Central banks use their counterfeiting rackets to rig interest rates, bailout their cronies, fund the welfare state, fund the police state, fund the warfare state, create asset booms and busts, and stifle economic growth.”[4]

End the Fed’s motif of central banks as parasitic, the call to privatize the money supply, and the coupling of anti-elite frames with an attack on the “welfare state” is not accidental. For instance, one of the books the page recommends for “Getting Informed” is The Secrets of the Federal Reserve by Eustace Mullins.[5]

Eustace Mullins was a rabid antisemite whose 1954 book The Federal Reserve Conspiracy summed its aims as,

“Exposing the plot behind the passage of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, which was the abdication of Congress, and the creation of the money trust, placing the nation’s banking reserves in the hands of the Jewish International Bankers for the purpose of carrying out their nearly fulfilled world dictatorship plan.”[6]

End the FED also recommends books by racist libertarian leader Ron Paul, 1970s tax protestor Irwin Schiff and Murray Rothbard, the paleo-libertarian “thinker” who embraced issue-framings used by David Duke in his 1992 election campaigns and defended the neo-Nazi as a “right-wing populist.” Alongside praise for the former Knights of the Ku Klux Klan leader, Rothbard advocated his own brand of devolutional nationalism, calling for the “decomposition and decentralization of the modern centralizing and coercive nation-state, deconstructing that state into constituent nationalities and neighborhoods, we shall at one and the same time reduce the scope of government power, the scope and importance of voting.”

Among the websites recommended by End the Fed are the Ron Paul Liberty Report, the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, the site of paleolibertarian Lew Rockwell, and Oath Keepers.[7]

Danny Banks’ own Facebook page is peppered with far-right conspiracism, including posting memes stating that contrails left in the sky by planes are “LUCIFERS (sic) ATTEMPT” at a “MASTERPIECE” and declaring “Our government has been overthrown by a satanic cabal that wants to reduce the populations.”[8]

Additionally, Banks posted a meme about the Black Lives Matter protests against police racism and violence, stating, “Phase 2 of Operation New World Order has been Deployed…The Orchestrated Riots to bring in Marshall Law.”[9]

Conspiracism such as this is a consistently radicalizing aspect of far-right ideologies, positing an often racialized or quasi-religious evil and global conspiracy seen at work in left-to-centrist-leaning state policies. In this respect, such conspiracism provides a framework for violence and insurrection when the “conspiracy” is seen as having outright captured government – as in Banks’ statement that the government has been “overthrown by a satanic cabal that wants to reduce the populations.” As with End the Fed, these are often linked to antisemitism.

Such themes have long been part of CSPOA’s framework. In addition to hosting a national tour with antisemite Robert David Steele, Richard Mack has declared, “There is one person who I believe can stop this new world order. His name is your county sheriff. There is no question your sheriff has the responsibility to protect you from tyranny and international bankers.” And CSPOA has also promoted election denial conspiracies, a framework that has undergirded the January 6 insurrection and the group’s efforts to organize sheriffs to intervene in elections.

By early 2020, Banks was active in COVID denial mobilizations and promoting anti-vaxxer politics. Among other things, Banks boosted the use of the horse and sheep de-wormer Ivermectin as a COVID-19 cure, posted a meme declaring that “Vaccines are all poison,” and repeated some of the COVID denial mobilization’s most egregious practices by promoting spurious comparisons between vaccinations to stop the spread of pandemic and the Holocaust.[10]

In a particularly offensive example of the latter, Banks circulated a meme declaring, “A new badge has been created which will allow you to go back to work, to travel in your state, to fly, catch a train or bus, and to buy and sell.” The meme includes a replica of the yellow stars Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust, the word “Vaccinated” and an identification number placed on it.[11]

Jewish organizations around the globe have roundly denounced the use of Holocaust imagery in this manner. For instance, the Montreal Holocaust Museum called this type of display of the yellow star “a painful symbol of Jewish discrimination and the Holocaust” and added, “comparisons between vaccine passports and yellow Stars of David are offensive, inaccurate and attempt to trivialize the painful history of the Holocaust.”

Another meme posted by Banks amidst his COVID denial activism expressed anti-Muslim bigotry, depicting women wearing turtlenecks that extended to cover their faces and stating, “IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE ISLAM.”[12]

In 2020, Banks started joining COVID denial Facebook groups, including Reopen Illinois – Save our workers, restaurants, and businesses (joined May 2020), Illinois Standing Against Tyranny (joined October 2021), Reopen USA, and the New York Patriots Group, formerly New Yorkers for Medical Freedom (joined 2022). Banks would become a member of FREEDOM CONVOY TO DC 2022 LOGISTICS, Carpool, Lodging, Support, Forum.[13]

Further reflecting far-right COVID denial politics, Banks circulated a Tea Party Patriots “National Rally” against “USELESS Mask Mandates” and “ANY FORCED vaccinations.”[14] And he posted material praising Kari Lake and casting the far-right election denier as “Our first future woman president.”[15]

Banks frequently stresses the need for his movement to recruit police and military into the cause.[16] As early as August 2020, Banks began posting articles of sheriffs defying COVID-19-related orders.[17] By February 2022, Banks was posting information about CSPOA events.[18]  And Banks would voice the Posse Comitatus theme boosted by CSPOA, writing that “sheriffs have the power to say no to unconstitutional mandates, even if they come from the president or governor.”[19]

While promoting a 2022 CSPOA event, Banks endorsed the violence always potentially present in the CSPOA’s pro-paramilitary strategy. In February 2022, Banks wrote that the effort to organize sheriffs is “a real strategy to put a stop to this tyranny, by force if necessary.”[20] In another post, Banks wrote,

“I see 2 ways out of this path to communism and slavery. 1. All out civil war. The problem with this idea is that we have no way to communicate and organize tens of millions of Americans without government surveillance. 2. Follow me on this one. Overthrow them from the inside, like they’ve done to us. There’s a global movement of people buying physical silver. The US and Australian mints have already announced they have shortages of silver. The power to issue endless amounts of paper currency is absolute. If people choose a form of money that they can’t control, it destroys the entire criminal financial system.”[21]

On December 22, 2020, one day after a mob of some 300 people, including armed individuals and members of the Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer, attempted to force their way into the Oregon State Capitol, Banks posted an article about the event titled, “Heavily Armed Far-Right Mob Floods Oregon Capitol.”[22]

Banks wrote, “A good start.”[23]

An exchange on his Facebook page on January 6, 2021, demonstrates Banks’ dismissal of the violence occurring during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. [24] In response to a post in which Banks stated, “We’re basically a province of China right now. People have to get organized with their local police and military that still believe in freedom,” one individual replied, “are (sic) you watching the news (sic). protest (sic) in Capitol building.” Banks responded by characterizing the insurrection as “People walking around with American flags being accused of rioting” and dismissed media coverage as “CCP [Chinese Communist Party] propaganda.”

When another commenter declared, “I was there. It was amazing and positive,” Banks castigated a media that “painted it like a terrorist attack.” When the commenter continued, “Oh I know the media sucks total drama it was peaceful it was fun it was great energy the whole time no crazies its great I feel so bad for our country,” Banks responded, “1000 percent agreed.” Banks would, however, express pessimism that the effort would lead to change.

Down the Rabbit Hole with Jennifer Martin

Another CSPOA organizer on the ground in Illinois is Jennifer Martin, the activist who corresponded with the Illinois Sheriff’s Association Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk and whose message was sent to sheriffs around the state.

Jennifer Martin is a Perry County Commissioner, elected in 2022.[25] In June 2022, while a candidate for the position, Martin was charged with disorderly conduct (Class C misdemeanor) when she refused to leave Trico High School after being trespassed by the principal. Martin was accused of further engaging law enforcement officers in “a loud verbal argument while school was in session.”[26]

Jennifer Martin

Martin is also a far-right conspiracy theorist and anti-vaxxer who has spread anti-Muslim and racist birther-style claims.

In 2015 Martin re-posted a spin on racist “birther” claims about former President Barrack Obama—the debunked claim that Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University (a conspiracy “theory” that spread exponentially across the presidential campaign of Donald Trump).[27]

That same year Martin, a Trump supporter, also posted a false and debunked claim that Valerie Jarret, an advisor to President Obama, had said that she sought to turn the U.S. into a “more Islamic country.”[28]

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Jenny Martin appears to have been radicalized by anti-mask and anti-vaxxer protests, changing her Facebook profile picture to feature a sign stating “UNMASK OUR KIDS” and posting a meme stating, “#AllVaccinesArePoison.”[29] Long before the pandemic, Martin was sharing anti-vaccine propaganda on Facebook—as far back as 2015.

During this period, Martin joined several COVID denial/anti-vaxxer Facebook groups, including Open Perry County Illinois back up now, Freedom of Choice in Illinois Schools, Freedom is Calling (later Patriot Brigade), and Illinois Educators for Medical Freedom.[30]

Across the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin emerged as a full-blown conspiracy theorist, endorsing the idea of a “dark & wickedly sinister agenda behind this whole Coronavirus thing” and positing an elite need to get rid of then-President Trump.”[31]

Martin’s conspiracist COVID denial activism may have played a role in advancing CSPOA’s project with the Illinois Sheriffs Association (ISA). In the email that ISA leader Jim Kaitschuk sent to sheriffs around the state about the CSPOA event, he described Martin’s as “interesting” and “at the forefront of the covid suits.”[32]

In August 2020, Martin posted the Qanon “Q” symbol and associated white rabbit, indicating an affinity for that particular brand of far-right conspiracism.[33]  By July  2021, Martin posted a meme declaring, “THE DEEPER YOU LOOK THE MORE YOU’LL FIND. WE’RE IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAR. NOT GUNS AND BOMBS. IT’S A WAR OF THE MIND. A NEW WORLD ORDER TO DESTROY MANKIND.”[34]

In July 2021, Martin would post a link to antisemitic conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and re-post a message stating, “BREAKING ARIZONA UPDATE…RIGGED ELECTION…TRUMP WON ARIZONA!”[35]

Martin would also promote a reactionary stance toward the murder of George Floyd by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and the movement for Black Lives. On the first count, in April 2021, she posted a meme stating, “Chauvin immediately stood calmly placed his hands behind his back. Imagine where we’d be had George done the same.”[36]

Another meme posted by Martin assailed Black Lives Matter in the form of a “question” asking, “I’m curious, has BLM helped one black person get a job or an education? Have they cleaned up one city? Built any Rec Centers? Have they really helped any blacks at all?”[37] Another would include a sketch of Barrack Obama, stating, ‘BREAKING NEWS. POLICE RELEASE SKETCH OF SUSPECT RESPONSIBLE FOR AMERICA’S RACIAL DIVIDE.”[38]

Such racism denial and distortion of the basic facts of American racism have also been part and parcel of CSPOA’s bag of bigoted tricks. For instance, Richard Mack is notorious for writing the racist lie that “the Reverend Jesse Jackson types and the NAACP have done more to enslave Afro-Americans than all the southern plantation owners put together.”

CSPOA’s drive to radicalize American law enforcement in the direction of Posse Comitatus “policing” practices is dependent on gains in two areas: building a network of sheriffs with the capacity to reach other law enforcement officers and working with an existing network of far-right individuals and organizations.

Both are on display in Illinois. Both must be stopped.

 

NOTES

[1] CSPOA Posse Intel Webinar 01-24-23. CSPOA Intel Webinar Sam & Jimmie Discuss Upcoming Rally Being Planned in Illinois Against Gun Control. https://cspoa.org/past-webinar-recordings/

[2] Sheriff Mack Training. Evite. https://www.evite.com/event/0352ZW5FURKRKISIQEPNM46H26BGJQ/. Accessed February 7, 2022

[3] Banks, Danny. Facebook. September 10, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02ceLJewn3kDBNLfBBFhKAAjVxSEJcbKyz9tFG4iF8QSHvn41VayQHU4QAYT3mELMCl

[4] The site elaborated that the Fed  “is siphoning off the productivity that should have come from those technological advances. The reality is that you are working overtime solely for the benefit of some bankers who the government gave the power to conjure money out of nothing. In addition, the Fed’s counterfeiting finances the tools of the government’s oppression over you: the militarization of the police, the surveillance apparatus, and the endless wars…END THE FED! A free market, where each individual has the freedom to choose what form of money to use rather than one being forced on them, must be allowed to function in its place.” End The Fed. Why Should I Care? http://endthefed.org/why-should-i-care/; End The Fed. THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE FRAUD OF FIAT CURRENCY & CENTRAL BANKING. http://endthefed.org/the-beginners-guide-to-understanding-the-fraud-of-fiat-currency-central-banking/ Accessed February 6, 2023.

[5] End The Fed. Getting Informed Books. http://endthefed.org/books/.  Accessed February 6, 2023.

[6] Mullins, Eustace. 1954. The Federal Reserve Conspiracy. Union, New Jersey: Christian Educational Association. https://ia804705.us.archive.org/11/items/pdfy-Yc5BED-gpTNRjLh6/The-Federal-Reserve-Conspiracy-Eustace-Mullins.pdf

[7] End The Fed. Getting Informed. Websites. http://endthefed.org/websites/. Accessed February 6, 2022.

[8] Bans, Danny. Facebook. September 29, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02n9WvEaHVPU5aTuTG6WcpdexHN9U8zhZQaSn8RKZymP6hqvydXqiR83E7C41fVvQTl; Banks, Danny. Facebook. July 18, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02zh5KMDcFsE6qdT6mFvj9Qi2rFaUKRVHYn2CsFvijD19rT5c3ZzQoxEUkuMWJzDTDl

[9] Banks, Danny. May 31, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02Vy5HEHVDkGSoUtn1CwzF3XobYbW1QFa8YdqudLtyzkpFm3xBQ3K8iXuktmHCKJzhl

[10] Banks, Danny. Facebook. January 25, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid0KbSJq1Yxnqq3ZseVHAVTZwiLQkYJZ2dtYhmdnBhnGkJyWv8H2HJMfF99mV3sovtwl; Banks, Danny. Facebook. January 17, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid029TZKipuywv2AeyVdGgPmwUPrVcp4tfi3rhCYv7FjJHuSiHwFkGQtKDbbVS2ALLSMl; Banks, Danny. Facebook. January 3, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02oajZw1PkocY5iJPKuG8g5qPohHBiW4yDgmLV7Z3RF3AfAxZasXY5CGTFNBhwwxbnl; Banks, Danny. Facebook. April 14, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02q7Qye3WxKf5zTSdiuoUUSY8d3eAgWj3aHGqvB2869DVBFMSymzdy8ADeFZTCRs3Xl

[11] Banks, Danny. Facebook. January 4, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02jtnvTDWMyAey2ZMwNsBhR4vLHqJy2a5jQLErEJW3iDKWo581u7YrBVVmbYZLSS1Fl

[12] Banks, Danny. Facebook. December 27, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02skrV3ZHCqpqs15Qg8dZmQ3ic2A8a6TpYe7BPEeR5DgKsAJuStr1D8tGQmQfYsFgTl

[13] Illinois Standing Against Tyranny. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/394622421863167/members; New York Patriots Group. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/287257536377091/members; Reopen Illinois – Save our workers, restaurants, and businesses https://www.facebook.com/groups/reopenillinois/members; FREEDOM CONVOY TO DC 2022 LOGISTICS, Carpool, Lodging, Support, Forum. https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomconvoytodc

[14] Banks, Danny. Facebook. August 27, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid09ev918JhvpKatxdZbjgtZdFKreJwfwftyV8HnSaQ8cGxyXrsXDAeG6R1dU8xug6Nl

[15] Banks, Danny. Facebook. June 25, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid0joLGnJfnysvnTnqPV6JErWUTS7iDQa4Li58vqLExVku29kDpUFFwhqTnTjnBmppJl

[16] Banks, Danny. Facebook. January 6, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid0PMRLuY17pK17LgH1S1jEqwgGtyqTkz2rmzkKepN2jZQX8Kn4MeWcoXwkatVS7qKAl

[17] Banks, Danny. August 9, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02ZFRntmdVjbstdJwrSWnKDPN9jwT3v9PMqoKho1xfDDVLfhQc955sKTafraWB2MHnl

[18] Banks, Danny. Facebook. February 17, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid0LDUb9tcb9rBnX3NdExEBtk8hEhhpEq5fP2Ubm5s5HWDEWr84VTUn6LrfZueF9Dezl

[19] Banks, Danny. Facebook. February 15, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid032RskF3b8uqFW5rCBxok5GFgrsE8zUUk4DP8NQriu5NKHAk1JH1c1Uy6BNovNwtbRl

[20] Banks, Danny. Facebook. February 3, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02k8LMvM6R61JqNEfUJGLC4oCPnRMXEmcRQTpXxnWVmrFgDGiY7t12cJHHhkd2zpVwl

[21] Banks, Danny. Facebook. June 9, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid02cmsN4vrVoWWqHHc38L7HpnrcKiKGXaq4Qv5aV6GZkgBAP63vPiR6DocnGKvvPt2nl

[22] Banks, Danny. Facebook. December 22, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid0414upibGxtQDq1tXNDZYEPN3tnBBnBQB8vR7zRcM29qExkXGRKQi2oKepafwWyeil

[23] Banks, Danny. Facebook. December 22, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid0414upibGxtQDq1tXNDZYEPN3tnBBnBQB8vR7zRcM29qExkXGRKQi2oKepafwWyeil

[24] Banks, Danny. Facebook. January 6, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/danny.banks.54/posts/pfbid0PMRLuY17pK17LgH1S1jEqwgGtyqTkz2rmzkKepN2jZQX8Kn4MeWcoXwkatVS7qKAl

[25] Perry County Illinois. Perry County Officials. https://perrycountyil.gov/perry-county-officials/. Accessed February 8, 2023; Governmental Business Systems. November 8, 2022 General Election ** Unofficial Results. https://results.gbsvote.com/locations/county_results.asp?id=5884. Accessed February 8, 2023.

[26] Martin, Jenny. Facebook. July 20, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid02BSfadg3YHjmNjw1ZHWwezoKX9n8D7Wye463YGg9dYYtQruz7STFL8qP52XLDV3mQl

[27] Reuters Staff. False claim: Obama’s Columbia University ID card shows he was a foreign student.  May 4, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-obama-foreign-student-colum-idUSKBN22G1VP; Martin, Jenny. Facebook. December 3, 2015.                                                                              https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid026PyxiXMYFzx5anErtGsCFyNvMXmTEu3ivDCEwRGUXu8NELDdqFB9ardmaGEnYZsrl

[28] Putterman, Samantha. No, Valerie Jarrett never said she seeks to ‘change America to be a more Islamic country’. Politifact. May 7, 2019. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/may/07/facebook-posts/no-valerie-jarrett-never-said-she-seeks-change-ame/; Martin, Jenny. Facebook. December 10, 2015. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid0ffQ7dWo932z3VQithc5P3jFf3rRjwcq48DXexycinQMSEnfoarYZXGPf66tNGeiVl; Martin, Jenny.  Facebook. November 3, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/1082386302422893:1082386302422893

[29] Martin, Jenny. August 8, 2021.                                                                                                https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/1132933840672283:1132933840672283; Martin, Jenny. Facebook. April 2, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid02XyGuQPodDJNbKZsS9uNq6qji9rLo8KiCQj3LTWZS1yuuuVDzgTVSDuhgRpECDozol

[30] Open Perry County Illinois back up now. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/246747439769391; https://www.facebook.com/groups/246747439769391. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/225069176201794/members; Illinois Educators for Medical Freedom. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2997260170552146; Patriot Brigade. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2670290749947551. Accessed February 16, 2023.

[31] Martin, Jenny. Facebook. March 14, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid0qtjkQcGgsHv2DP3iENgW9ZQiQfA9Wqqsn3u3bj6ttRUTaRT8Yvo3jRDGxJ95PiV3l. In this post, Martin announces that, “This is what I have been trying to say !!” posts  “opinions piece” stating,

“There is a dark & wickedly sinister agenda behind this whole Coronavirus thing. It is not what they are telling us. There is a book about the stock market crash of 2008. It was a managed crash. There was an election that needed to be won. A managed crash of the stock market was necessary. It worked. That election was won.  Now, there is another election that needs to be won and the same people, and companies are panicking the public about the Coronavirus. The main stream media has become an instrument of propaganda (sic). This panic is tanking the stock market. Based on the CIA World Factbook, there 7.7 billion people in the world. There are 333 million people in the United States. Add in the 40 million illegal immigrants, there are upwards of 370 million. Worldwide, there has been less than 4 thousand deaths….Why are companies & schools in the United States closing down when not even 100k people are sick and less that 20 people have died? Why are companies like Twitter, Facebook, Citibank, etc., encouraging their employees to work from home “to avoid getting sick?” Why is the media hyping this disease up?…We have had the worst market crash ever because of the Chinese situation with covid-19, but according to news reports, less than 4 thousand people in China, a country of 1.4 billion have died. Why is the whole world shutting down? People in high places have stated that they are willing to lose money in the stock market if it will get rid of this President. Because of media hype, the President and CVC are forced to react. HUGE RED FLAG, The president asked for 2 billion dollars to combat this virius. Democrats said, nooooooo! We need 8 billion: and actually gave the 8 billion to him. Hummmm. Keep watching. Something wicked will be exposed in the future.”

[32] Email from Jim Kaitschuk to Dwight Baird, Richland County Sheriff Andrew Hires, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle, Nick Petitgout. January 13, 2023.  Kaitschuk wrote of Martin, “I spoke to this gal earlier today at the request of Sheriff Bullard. She is ‘interesting’ and has been at the forefront of the covid suits and other issues. She wanted our involvement in all this and wanted us to share this. My thought would be to just share this with sheriffs as an FYI and that be it. Thoughts?”

[33] Martin, Jenny. August 1, 2020.                                                    https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/480436584153639:480436584153639

[34] Martin, Jenny. Facebook. July 19, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid024inZTPHDrBVTyNykG8v1QbZLKSgT7D9miMUiFsqoHA3rGhCyMa7re5PivtZRaQTUl

[35] Martin, Jenny. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid02qLX71bj1ZqPejR6Q5LAMrP3YcyGNVAwzddQLNxnP8WEXWMz3rGmBA5i6UJqE2Trvl; Martin, Jenny. Facebook. July 16,2021. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid02CErwZQJCzNh3u2wK5N2twfZcJyVmTp6thghzgaEM5yccacg7aLWYvJ6KyDRRqA8xl

[36] Martin, Jenny. Facebook. April 21, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid02exLQE67iY8M4hn6ovQ6DneRsPMBpFVyNKC1UewKbCc68WwBGJYtqJ9evg8VBe94hl

[37] Martin, Jenny. Facebook. April 20, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid02GBDj1BSxD6Vsvehp77gbHMAYUE17dbdcY48fFTjSBi3hW2USbd7kwuDRGeT5tj4ml

[38] Martin, Jenny. Facebook. April 16, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/witchywoman20/posts/pfbid02m35pghumAi9D1LW9bKBKPcdrqi5yrpmqZS6bXc4JcV3bKtUTAL7o4LptWfXA3Ns6l

The post Roots in Far Right Conspiracism: CSPOA On-the-Ground in Illinois appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

In the wake of dozens of Illinois sheriffs declaring their refusal to enforce a recently-passed gun law, the far-right Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) has stepped up a campaign to infiltrate Illinois law enforcement and galvanize far-right efforts across the state.

Passed in January, the Protect Illinois Communities Act bars the manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, and delivery of assault weapons and attachments, 0.50 caliber rifles and cartridges, and large-capacity magazines.[1]

On January 11, the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association (ISA), a state non-profit headed by Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk, issued a “Legislative Alert” declaring that it had “OPPOSED this legislation throughout its development and REMAINS OPPOSED to the bill as passed.” On the same day, LaSalle County Sheriff Adam C. Diss issued a statement on ISA letterhead and posted on the ISA Facebook page, stating that,

“neither myself nor my office will be checking to ensure that lawful gun owners register their weapons with the State, nor will we be arrested or housing law abiding individuals that have been arrested solely with non-compliance with the Act.”[2]

Kaitschuk told the Associated Press that more than 90 Illinois Sheriffs issued similar statements based on the ISA template.[3]

Illinois Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk

With COVID and election denial activism slowing, CSPOA pounced on the opportunity to use the gun issue to infiltrate law enforcement, radicalize law enforcement officers, and grow the organization’s stature. CSPOA had previously used gun issues as an entry point, such as during the Obama administration when the group had over four hundred law enforcement personnel around the country sign on to a “non-compliance” pledge.

On a January 24 “Posse Intel Webinar,” CSPOA CEO and National Operations Director Sam Bushman announced his group’s response – a March 4 CSPOA training in Illinois and an accompanying rally “in defense of these 90 plus sheriffs” opposing the law. Bushman described Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard as “one of the lead sheriffs sponsoring the event.”

Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard (far right) and CSPOA CEO Sam Bushman

An Evite page announced an invite-only “Sheriff Mack Training” on March 4 in Springfield, Illinois. Initially scheduled to take place at Radiant Life Church, the location was later changed to Venue 1929, a private event center. The Evite also repeats the Posse Comitatus view of policing pressed by CSPOA, stating, “The law enforcement powers held by the sheriff supersede those of any agent, officer, elected official or employee from any level of government when in the jurisdiction of the county.”[4]

The Evite lists Rolling Meadows-based far-right conspiracy theorist Danny Banks as the “host,” continuing that, “Along with Sheriff Mack, I have a Lt. Colonel in the US Marines that would like to talk with all the officers. I’m working on getting this training approved as CE [Continuing Education] hours for sheriffs that attend.”[5]

To date, Texas and Virginia already offer Continuing Education credits to officers who attend CSPOA’s Posse Comitatus-inspired trainings.

A CSPOA announcement declared the training a “Revolutionary Event,” describing that was “in support” of “Sheriffs across Illinois…refusing to enforce the state’s unconstitutional gun ban” and that the workshop would be “critical and should interest anyone who wishes to Restore Constitutional Law in America.”[6]

An event flyer described that it would be “hosted by” the American Police Officers Alliance (APOA), Macon County Sheriff Jim Root and Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard.  Richard Mack is the sole Advisory Board members listed on the APOA website, a position he assumed in November 2021. The event is also set to feature former Elkhart County, Indiana Sheriff and current County Commissioner Brad Rogers.[7]

CSPOA’s Illinois effort got a boost when ISA head Jim Kaitschuk sent out a January 16 event announcement from a local CSPOA organizer to sheriffs across the state – Perry County Commissioner and far-right conspiracist Jennifer Martin. In her January 13 message to Kaitschuk, Martin wrote,

“Per our conversation, this is the info that I was referring to. If any sheriffs are interested, please tell them to contact me. Our tentative date for Sheriff Mack to be in Illinois is Feb 4. This can be moved further back if enough sheriffs show interest, however not too much farther as Illinois is under distress.”[8]

The date would later change to March 4, but word quickly spread through sheriff departments across the state.

A “Constitutional Revival”: Using Far-Right Sheriffs to Recruit More Sheriffs

The email from ISA and Jennifer Martin to Illinois sheriffs illustrates a critical aspect of CSPOA recruitment and radicalization efforts – namely, the role played by sheriffs supportive of the far-right organization in drawing additional law officers into the fold.

For instance, the CSPOA propaganda sent to Illinois sheriffs included a list of training endorsements from seven Texas sheriffs.[9] In addition to using these sheriffs to appeal to other law enforcement officers, the endorsements make clear that those sheriffs actively promoting CSPOA are particularly drawn to the group’s “interpretation” of the U.S. Constitution – aka, the far right Constitutionally-constructed nationalism espoused by the group.

Displaying the fervor that characterizes this nationalist movement, Houston County Sheriff Randy Hargrove declared, “The CSPOA training is a constitutional revival.” Hargrove, whose department hosted a CSPOA training, described that the training would also affect his policing practices:

“This training was very effective in learning how the Constitution applies in my daily job and how I can apply it. I would like to have the CSPOA come to my count to lead a training class…This training will help me change my practice for using the Constitution more often.”

Houston County Sheriff Randy Hargrove

This practical impact described by Hargrove is of particular concern given CSPOA’s anti-immigrant politics and the history of some CSPOA-affiliated sheriffs, including Richard Mack, threatening, intimidating, and/or taking money from immigrants.

Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe commented, “Very effective knowledge of the Constitution and great presentation of the Oath of Office… We need more law enforcement to attend this training.” Coryell County Sheriff Scott Williams declared, “The CSPOA is the most beneficial and important law enforcement and constitutional training organization in the USA.”

And Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd described, “I will highly recommend this course to our Sheriff’s Alliance (Texas Regional Sheriff’s Alliance. TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) should highlight and promote this course more. Please offer more instruction on the Constitution and upholding the Oath of Office.”

Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd

This emphasis on the “Oath of Office” is also a critical part of CSPOA’s nationalist mythology, signaling an officer’s commitment to enforcing the group’s far-right vision of government in which sheriffs can overturn democracy – an ideological feature CSPOA shares with the insurrectionist Oath Keepers.

Not incidentally, Mack previously served as an Oath Keeper’s board member and CSPOA leaders have maintained a relationship with the group. Six Oath Keepers leaders, including Richard Mack’s “dear friend” Stewart Rhodes, were recently convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection to their role in the January 6 insurrection.

Others Texas law officers praising CSPOA included Wichita County Sheriff David Duke [no, not that David Duke], Victoria County Sheriff Justin Marr, and Rockwall County Sheriff Terry Garrett.

Emails obtained by IREHR in FOIA requests to Illinois sheriff departments provide further evidence of the crucial role of supporting sheriffs and public officials in CSPOA gaining traction, or not, in a state.

On the first count, emails between Illinois Sheriff’s Association head Jim Kaitschuk and multiple sheriffs indicate that both Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard’s actions and Jennifer Martin’s covid denial activism played a role in jumping CSPOA onto ISA’s agenda. An email from Kaitschuk to several sheriffs dated January 13, and containing Jennifer Martin’s appeal on behalf of CSPOA, described,

“I spoke to this gal earlier today at the request of Sheriff Bullard. She is ‘interesting’ and has been at the forefront of the covid (sic) suits and other issues. She wanted our involvement in all this and wanted us to share this. My thought would be to just share this with sheriffs as an FYI and that be it. Thoughts?”[10]

Bullard appeared on the Richard Mack Show with CSPOA CEO Sam Bushman in late January.[11] Bullard wrote on January 24, “You guys are on the popular list with Facebook. It won’t let me share the link on my Sheriff’s page. Anyway you guys can send me MP4 file of the show? I would be happy to be on the show in the future.”[12]

In another instance, CSPOA’s efforts were undermined by a sheriff who deemed the group “too far right.” This occurred after Lee County Board Member (District 1) Angela Shippert reached out to Lee County Administrator Wendy Ryerson, asking that she have county State’s Attorney Charles Boonstra review a copy of an Elko County Board of Commissioners Resolution in which that Nevada county had joined CSPOA. Shippert hoped that the resolution could be “altered” and put on the Public Safety Committee agenda, describing that,

“Because of the nature of the document, this would signal to our Sheriff our desire to not only belong to the group but to uphold the 2nd ammendment (sic), etc. as put forth in our constition (sic), much like he already has. We would be one of just a handful of counties in the nation to act on a resolution of this nature.”[13]

Ryerson expressed her discomfort with the request but cc’d it to Boonstra, who forwarded the message to Lee County Sheriff Clay Whelan, stating, “Thought you should be aware of this before it gets too far down the line.”[14]

Sheriff Whelan responded, “I think that is getting a little too far right for me. I liked and applauded the last resolution, but this one (sic) overboard for me.” Boonstra responded, “I agree.”[15]

Sheriff Whelan had issued a letter on January 11 indicating that his department would not be making arrests based on “non-compliance” with the Protect Illinois Community Act.[16]

While Whelen rejected elevating CSPOA’s status in the state, according to information obtained from IREHR FOIA requests, at the time of publication, ten individuals have indicated that they will or may attend the March 4 training, including  Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard, Adams County Sheriff Anthony Grootens, and Winnebago Count Sheriff Gary Caruana.[17]

Radicalizing Sheriffs

The endorsements from Texas sheriffs included in CSPOA propaganda demonstrated that these law officers were most attracted to CSPOA’s pseudo-Constitutional framework – the very thing that compels far-rightists down the radicalization rabbit hole and ends in the actions of groups like Oath Keepers.

Further insight into CSPOA’s radicalization efforts came when Macon County Sheriff Jim Root appeared on the Sheriff Mack Show on February 7. Root’s appearance began by shedding light on the ideological overlap between some sheriffs and CSPOA. Commenting on election denier Mike Lindell’s appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show, Root repeated the debunked claim made by co-host and CSPOA CEO Sam Bushman that Trump’s and affiliated lawsuits aimed at overturning the 2020 election results were rejected solely based on standing and not the merits of the evidence. Root commented that if people like Lindell go on shows like this,

“you’re going to get attacked…if you don’t think that the elections (sic) was correct. Yeah, they’re going to come after you…they’re gonna try to belittle you…If you stand up and stand your ground, they don’t have a leg to stand on because their philosophies of, you know, this didn’t happen is not correct because everybody knows that people in elections, they do make mistakes. Now does it result to the amount of what Trump had in 2020? I can’t tell you because, as he said, they have not looked at, the judges have not looked at it.”[18]

Root’s appearance also laid bare that one of CSPOA’s aims in Illinois is the radicalization of sheriffs – and, in particular, attempting to push law officers in the direction of arresting those public officials who don’t comport with CSPOA’s far right and anti-democratic nationalism.

Macon County Sheriff Jim Root (far right) with Richard Mack (center) and Sam Bushman (left)

Bushman asked Root about Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker allegedly violating the Constitution through the Illinois gun law, saying,

“So when the governor violates the supreme law to that degree…to me that’s criminal activity and the governor should be arrested…Now, I’m just a layman and not a police officer…But I’m just asking from Joe Q Public, sheriff, what the heck, can’t we just stop this criminal?”[19]

Mack further pushed Root, “If I swear an oath, and I wittingly and knowingly violate that oath, have I not committed perjury, and is that not a criminal act?”[20]

Refusing to take the bait, and even as he claimed that Illinois is “one of the most corrupt states,” Root answered that oaths sworn in courtrooms, not those in ceremonies, constitute perjury when violated and that Pritzker’s law would be dealt with in the courts. Root nonetheless encouraged the CSPOA leaders to “get the word out to what the organization does and educate the other sheriffs.”[21]

Asked a similar question by Sam Bushman during his appearance on the Sheriff Mack Show, Sheriff Jeff Bullard responded that if Pritzker

“calls out a sheriff by name and threatens to remove them from office, for them upholding their oath and sticking to their duties…if he would threaten a sheriff by name to have them arrested or removed from office for doing their Constitutional duty, I would believe that he would cross the line at that point. But to my knowledge, he hasn’t done that yet.”[22]

Bullard declared, “This is literally a battle between good and evil.”[23]

When Bushman asked, “What do we need to be doing, and where is this headed?” Bullard referenced opposition to COVID-19-related mandates and lawsuits to stop gun control laws, such as the Illinois law, ultimately concluding,

“We need more sheriffs, especially, who are the top Constitutional peace officer in each county that they serve – we need more of them to be vocal and to step up and saying, you know when I look through the Constitutional lens at this law, or this action, that it’s wrong, and we’re not going to do it and if it comes to our county, we’re going to stop that. We’re going to do what it takes to stop that in our county.”[24]

In the end, Bushman and Mack’s attempt to press Root and Bullard on the issue betrayed these far-right leaders’ efforts to radicalize Illinois sheriffs.

Evidenced by Bullard’s comments, some law officers in the state are already there.

Anyone concerned about democracy and human and civil rights should take heed, stand up and fight back to stop the descent of American law enforcement into the abyss of the far right.

 

Next up, IREHR looks at the far-right activity of the local Illinois organizers of the CSPOA event.

NOTES

 

[1] Illinois Governor. Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Banning Assault Weapons and Sale of High-Capacity Magazines. January 10, 2023. https://www.illinois.gov/news/press-release.25890.html

[2] Illinois Sheriff’s Association. Facebook. January 11, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/Illinoissheriffsassociation/posts/pfbid02fyJwFEbKNeZi6ZL5mPafsWhebJ9THcEXwfbsByHHRWB3dqAh3XzU7JZJ5qhU2QSzl; Illinois Sheriff’s Association. Facebook. January 11, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/Illinoissheriffsassociation/posts/pfbid032FwS9YU3nZUpMb9jerkSLRJFa9w9PtFG3qU123wsXvq9pBLdNCecYVhaQuGJZaZul

[3] O’Connor, John. Illinois governor, sheriffs spar over semiautomatic gun law. Associated Press. January 13, 2023. https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-illinois-fires-0ee1207b1937612055b19dbe68e60c49

[4] Sheriff Mack Training. Evite. https://www.evite.com/event/0352ZW5FURKRKISIQEPNM46H26BGJQ/. Accessed February 7, 2022 and February 17, 2023; Venue 1929. https://www.evite.com/event/0352ZW5FURKRKISIQEPNM46H26BGJQ/. Accessed February 17, 2023.

[5] Sheriff Mack Training. Evite. https://www.evite.com/event/0352ZW5FURKRKISIQEPNM46H26BGJQ/. Accessed February 7, 2022

[6] Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. ILLINOIS SHERIFFS AND THE AMERICAN POLICE OFFICERS ALLIANCE ARE PLEASE TO ANNOUNCE Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA). The County Sheriff: America’s Last Hope. https://cspoa.org/march-4th-cspoa-illinois-sheriffs-and-american-police-officers-alliance-the-county-sheriff-americas-last-hope/

[7] American Police Officers Association. Advisory Committee. https://americanpoliceofficersalliance.com/recruiting-advisory-committee/. Accessed February 16, 2023.; Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. Presenting THE COUNTY SHERIFF AMERICA’S LAST HOPE. Event Announcement; American Police Officers Association. Sheriff Richard Mack Joins American Police Officers Alliance as Newest Advisory Board Member. November 9, 2021. https://americanpoliceofficersalliance.com/sheriff-richard-mack-as-newest-advisory-board-member/

[8] Response to public records request from Peoria County Sheriff’s Department. February 9, 2023; Email to Peroria County Sheriff’s Department from Jim Kaitschuk, Illinois Sheriff’s Association. January 16, 2023; Email from Jennifer Martin to Jim Kaitschuck. January 13, 2023.

[9] Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officer Association. CSPOA ETHICS AND OATH OF OFFICE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT COURSE OFFICER EVALUATION COMMENTS 2021.

[10] Email from Jim Kaitschuk to Dwight Baird, Richland County Sheriff Andrew Hires, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle, Nick Petitgout. January 13, 2023.

[11] Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The Sheriff Mack Show: Sam Bushman ft. Sheriff Jeff Bullard. January 24, 2023. https://cspoa.org/the-sheriff-mack-show/the-sheriff-mack-show-sam-bushman-ft-sheriff-jeff-bullard/

[12] Email from Jeff Bullard to libertyroundtable@gmail.com. January 24, 2023.

[13] Email from Angela Shippert to Wendy Ryerson. January 24, 2023; Lee County Illinois. Staff Director. County Board. https://www.leecountyil.com/Directory.aspx?did=41. Accessed February 14, 2023.

[14] Email from Wendy Ryerson to Lee County Chair, cc’d to Charley Boonstra. January 24, 2023; email from Charley Boonstra to Clay Whelan. January 24, 2023.

[15] Email from Clay Whelan to Charley Boonstra. January 24, 2023; Email from Charley Boonstra to Clay Whelan. January 24, 2023.

[16] Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Clayton T. Whelan. Press Release. January 11, 2023.

[17] Sheriff Mack Training. Evite. https://www.evite.com/event/0352ZW5FURKRKISIQEPNM46H26BGJQ/. Accessed February 7, 2022

[18]The Sheriff Mack Show. Sheriff Richard Mack & Sam Bushman with Sheriff Jim Root. February 7, 2023. https://cspoa.org/the-sheriff-mack-show/the-sheriff-mack-show-sheriff-richard-mack-sam-bushman-6/;  For evidence countering this claim, see Reuters Staff. Fact check: Courts have dismissed multiple lawsuits of alleged electoral fraud presented by Trump campaign. February 15, 2022.   https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-courts-election/fact-check-courts-have-dismissed-multiple-lawsuits-of-alleged-electoral-fraud-presented-by-trump-campaign-idUSKBN2AF1G1

[19] The Sheriff Mack Show. Sheriff Richard Mack & Sam Bushman with Sheriff Jim Root. February 7, 2023. https://cspoa.org/the-sheriff-mack-show/the-sheriff-mack-show-sheriff-richard-mack-sam-bushman-6/

[20] The Sheriff Mack Show. Sheriff Richard Mack & Sam Bushman with Sheriff Jim Root. February 7, 2023. https://cspoa.org/the-sheriff-mack-show/the-sheriff-mack-show-sheriff-richard-mack-sam-bushman-6/

[21] The Sheriff Mack Show. Sheriff Richard Mack & Sam Bushman with Sheriff Jim Root. February 7, 2023. https://cspoa.org/the-sheriff-mack-show/the-sheriff-mack-show-sheriff-richard-mack-sam-bushman-6/

[22] Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The Sheriff Mack Show: Sam Bushman ft. Sheriff Jeff Bullard. January 24, 2023. https://cspoa.org/the-sheriff-mack-show/the-sheriff-mack-show-sam-bushman-ft-sheriff-jeff-bullard/

[23] Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The Sheriff Mack Show: Sam Bushman ft. Sheriff Jeff Bullard. January 24, 2023. https://cspoa.org/the-sheriff-mack-show/the-sheriff-mack-show-sam-bushman-ft-sheriff-jeff-bullard/

[24] Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The Sheriff Mack Show: Sam Bushman ft. Sheriff Jeff Bullard. January 24, 2023. https://cspoa.org/the-sheriff-mack-show/the-sheriff-mack-show-sam-bushman-ft-sheriff-jeff-bullard/

The post CSPOA Illinois Campaign Gets Boost from State Sheriffs’ Association appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s President, Devin Burghart, was cited in the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting;

Investigative reporter, Isaac Stone Simonelli, writes “The most important name on the list of advisory board members, however, is Peroutka, according to Devin Burghart, president and executive director of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, an organization that tracks far-right movements. Burghart explained that the presence of Peroutka on the board was a clear demonstration of the organization ‘no longer trying to hide their far-right connections,’ but ‘trying to institutionalize’ them.”

Read more here

The post IREHR in the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting: “Arizona-based sheriff group promotes members with ties to white nationalism” – February 16, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

IREHR’s President, Devin Burghart, was quoted in In These Times;

Burghart said, “Groups like Patriot Front and the Proud Boys have relied on misogyny and homophobia as a core of their brands. So it’s not surprising to see them step out front in the current moment.”

Read more here

The post IREHR in In These Times: “Transphobic Violence Doesn’t Happen in a Vacuum” – February 15, 2023 appeared first on Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.