Oath Keeper Member List Rocks America
Table of Contents
- By Steven
- Published: Oct 07, 2022
- Last Updated: Oct 10, 2022
The leak of the Oath Keeper member list has left many citizens in a bit of a panic. With surprisingly large numbers of members, people fear the worst of friends and neighbors.
What Exactly Are the Oath Keepers?
The Oath Keepers are a group of anti-government militia claiming to protect the United States Constitution. The Oath Keepers are primarily responsible for the attack on the Capitol on January 6th, 2020. The group has almost 40,000 members, many in law enforcement and military positions. It was founded in 2009 by Elmer Stewart Rhodes. The acting president at the time of writing is Kellye SoRelle.
What Was Released in the Leak?
The information leaked was the member list of the Oath Keepers. The list includes the names and professions of the members. The members include:
- 81 elected officials.
- Almost 400 individuals currently serving in law enforcement.
- 117 members of the U.S. military.
So far, none of the elected government officials have been identified as holding a federal office, but many state representatives were on the list. Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers, Alaska State Representative David Eastman, and New Hampshire State Senator Bob Giuda were all on the list, among many others.
What Did We Learn From the Breach?
We learned that Texas has the most significant number of Oath Keepers, with over 3,000 members, eight of which being elected officials. California is next in line for the most members, having only 200 fewer members than Texas. Florida and New York are following; the two states have a combined number of 4,714 general members, six elected officials, and 56 law enforcement members.
What Will Become of the Members?
All Oath Keepers are facing trial for the attack on the Capitol. Former member John Zimmerman is testifying against Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, saying that there was contact with the Secret Service months before the January 6th incident. The Secret Service spokesperson, Steve Kopek, told CNN, “The U.S. Secret Service doesn’t have enough information to say whether or not this call actually took place. As far as weapons go – no firearms are ever allowed in the secured zone of a rally. Outside the secure zone attendees must follow state and local laws.”
What Will Happen in the Aftermath of the Breach?
In the aftermath of the breach, many news outlets are launching full-scale investigations into the individuals listed. One of these is the ADL, The Anti-Defamation League. The ADL has been working tirelessly since the breach and is largely responsible for identifying the members. “Even for those who claimed to have left the organization when it began to employ more aggressive tactics in 2014,” the ADL noted, “it is important to remember that the Oath Keepers have espoused extremism since their founding, and this fact was not enough to deter these individuals from signing up.” Stewart Rhodes has been charged with seditious conspiracy, and Kellye SoRelle was accused of obstruction to an official proceeding and conspiracy.
