Virginia has highest number of military members on leaked Oath Keepers list, report says
A leaked membership list for the Oath Keepers militia group includes the names of 15 Virginia military members — the most from any state to be associated with the far-right anti-government group, according to a report released this week.
The Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism report found a total of 1,091 purported members of the group in Virginia, including the 15 active-duty military and another 10 people who are either elected officials, law enforcement or first responders. The report, released Wednesday, is based on a review of the 38,000 names on an Oath Keepers’ membership list obtained by the non-profit Distributed Denial of Secrets and published in September 2021.
By crosschecking the names with information found in public databases, media reports and social media platforms, the ADL identified 373 people across the country it believes currently work in law enforcement agencies, 117 people who are currently members of the military, and 81 elected officials.
The breakdown for Virginians is as follows:
•Total: 1,091
•Elected Officials: 1
•Law Enforcement: 6
•Military: 15
•First Responders: 3
The report is meant to “illuminate the extent to which the group’s anti-government ideology has permeated mainstream society,” the ADL said. But the organization cautioned being included on the list does not confirm a person was ever an active member nor that the person is an adherent to the group’s ideology.
It’s not clear the military branch or public safety agency that employ these individuals. The ADL is only naming elected officials and law enforcement leaders such as police chiefs and sheriffs, according to Jake Hyman, a spokesperson for the ADL, who added that their report is not meant to “unmask” or “dox” rank-and-file personnel.
“ADL has been in contact with each law enforcement agency affected by our report and we continue to work with them in addressing the challenges of extremism within their ranks,” Hyman said.
Those with potential links to the group represent only a tiny fraction of the state’s nearly 130,000 active duty military members. Virginia has the second most active-duty military members of any state, according to the Department of Defense.
The Oath Keepers were founded by Stewart Rhodes in 2009 with a mission of defending the Constitution from “all enemies, foreign and domestic,” the Associated Press reported. The ADL describes the group as believing the United States government is under the control of the New World Order or a similar shadowy group that plans to strip citizens of their rights by doing a mass confiscation of guns or by putting people into concentration camps.
About two dozen people associated with the Oath Keepers, including Rhodes, face charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. But before that, the group was known for involvement in right-wing political events such as “Stop the Steal” rallies, patrolling polling locations during the 2016 and 2020 elections to discourage and report voter fraud, and confronting protesters and providing armed security to business and property owners when protests over police brutality turned violent.
The Oath Keepers have an explicit focus on recruiting current and former military, law enforcement and first responders, according to ADL.
“Members of law enforcement and the military are frequently privy to sensitive or classified information, and it is possible that members affiliated with groups like the Oath Keepers could use this information to advance their anti-government agenda or even disrupt an investigation,” the ADL report stated. “It is also possible that members could steal police or military equipment, either to arm themselves or to sell.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard said military members who “practice hate and discrimination are subject to discipline under Coast Guard policy” and could potentially be subject to prosecution in the military court system.
“Extremism not only goes against goes against the fundamental principles of our Constitutional oath and the Core Values of the Service, but it tears away unit cohesion, and degrades readiness and mission success,” U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Nicolina Converso said in a statement.
The Virginia National Guard is addressing extremism using the policies laid out in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
“There is no place for extremism in the military, and the Virginia National Guard will investigate any reports of extremist activity such as violence, intimidation or other breach of peace and take appropriate action as prescribed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” said A.A. “Cotton” Puryear, a spokesperson for the Virginia National Guard.
Representatives for Norfolk Naval Station did not respond to a request for comment.
Robert Barnette, Jr., president of the Virginia Chapter of the NAACP, called the ADL report “disturbing” and said it reaffirms the concerns of Black Virginians about those charged with protecting them.
“Those who choose to defend us through their military service, those who choose to serve us as elected officials, and those who choose to protect us as emergency responders should do so without bias or hate,” Barnette said in an emailed statement. “The reported number of individuals who are members of the Oath Keepers is yet another reason Black Virginians and all people of color have continued mistrust.”
Barnette added that the Virginia NAACP supports dishonorable discharges for those in the military who are members or supporters of white supremacist organizations.
The report included several excerpts of communications from purported members, and specified their law enforcement agency or military branch.
One message was from a deputy with the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, who offered to help with their cause.
“I’m not sure that I have any talents that aren’t already available or really useful. Outside of the military, I’m a graphic designer (AAS - Visual Communications) and self-storage assistant,” the deputy wrote. “I’ve worked for education publishing, newspapers, magazines, etc., doing image creation, ad layouts, flyers, brochures, design, and so forth…I am happy to assist with whatever I can though, whether it’s with people, events, promotions, whatever.”
Gavin Stone, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com
