I haven't seen this posted. So...
Evidently, so-called Right Wing extremists haven't just 'infiltrated' the National Guard... National Guard Drops Two Georgians After Investigating Extremist Ties (I placed that thread in Off Topic in that it involved the National Guard. However, this one involves a pro-gun, Republican member of the Washington State Legislature and his suspension.)
It looks, according to The New York Times (and NPR, CNN, Esquire, The Seattle Times...), as though Matt Shea, a Republican representing the 4th Legislative District in the Washington House of Representatives and former member of the Washington National Guard when he served in Iraq...
Here's a link to "The Biblical Basis for War."
If you need a little help remembering the Bundy situation, specifically at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, here's a 2017 thread entitled - Ryan Bundy's Opening Statement -- Nevada Trial (On page 3 of that thread, Matt Shea's name pops up in a couple of posts; Post #102 being the first.)
You might also recall this footage...
Here is a .pdf copy of the "Legislature's report" on Matt Shea from 1 December 2019. It was actually compiled by the Rampart Group, LLC. According to the report...
The 108 page report goes on to make a point of specifically noting...
As I stated in the National Guard thread...
Evidently, so-called Right Wing extremists haven't just 'infiltrated' the National Guard... National Guard Drops Two Georgians After Investigating Extremist Ties (I placed that thread in Off Topic in that it involved the National Guard. However, this one involves a pro-gun, Republican member of the Washington State Legislature and his suspension.)
It looks, according to The New York Times (and NPR, CNN, Esquire, The Seattle Times...), as though Matt Shea, a Republican representing the 4th Legislative District in the Washington House of Representatives and former member of the Washington National Guard when he served in Iraq...
...was 34 years old when he ran for the state Legislature in eastern Washington, but he had already established credentials that made him a promising Republican candidate...
...went on to win with nearly 60% of the vote, then moved up the ranks in the Legislature, reaching the powerful position of chair of his party’s caucus in 2017...
... began attracting the attention of law enforcement for his growing embrace of fringe ideologies and conspiracy theories. He networked with local militia groups, talked about plans to create a 51st state called Liberty and distributed to his closest followers a “Biblical Basis for War” document that calls for the “surrender” of those who favor abortion rights, same-sex marriage, “idolatry” and communism...
Last week, a report commissioned by the Legislature asserted that Shea had engaged in domestic terrorism in his support of the armed takeover of Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by militant ranchers and their supporters in 2016 — part of a protest over federal ownership of public lands in the West...
...Far-right organizers have begun plying their message of civil conflict in mainstream political circles, building new networks that include elected politicians and voters who would never consider themselves part of an extremist group...
...In 2014, Shea co-founded the Coalition of Western States, a group of conservative state lawmakers, sheriffs and others formed to counter what its advocates said was a “war on rural America” waged by an overreaching federal government.
More recently, Shea has advanced a political campaign to cleave Washington state in half, hoping to create a 51st state in the conservative counties east of the Cascades...
In response to the report, J.T. Wilcox, the leader of Republicans in the state House, said Shea had been suspended from any role in the caucus. He also urged Shea to resign.
...went on to win with nearly 60% of the vote, then moved up the ranks in the Legislature, reaching the powerful position of chair of his party’s caucus in 2017...
... began attracting the attention of law enforcement for his growing embrace of fringe ideologies and conspiracy theories. He networked with local militia groups, talked about plans to create a 51st state called Liberty and distributed to his closest followers a “Biblical Basis for War” document that calls for the “surrender” of those who favor abortion rights, same-sex marriage, “idolatry” and communism...
Last week, a report commissioned by the Legislature asserted that Shea had engaged in domestic terrorism in his support of the armed takeover of Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by militant ranchers and their supporters in 2016 — part of a protest over federal ownership of public lands in the West...
...Far-right organizers have begun plying their message of civil conflict in mainstream political circles, building new networks that include elected politicians and voters who would never consider themselves part of an extremist group...
...In 2014, Shea co-founded the Coalition of Western States, a group of conservative state lawmakers, sheriffs and others formed to counter what its advocates said was a “war on rural America” waged by an overreaching federal government.
More recently, Shea has advanced a political campaign to cleave Washington state in half, hoping to create a 51st state in the conservative counties east of the Cascades...
In response to the report, J.T. Wilcox, the leader of Republicans in the state House, said Shea had been suspended from any role in the caucus. He also urged Shea to resign.
If you need a little help remembering the Bundy situation, specifically at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, here's a 2017 thread entitled - Ryan Bundy's Opening Statement -- Nevada Trial (On page 3 of that thread, Matt Shea's name pops up in a couple of posts; Post #102 being the first.)
You might also recall this footage...
Here is a .pdf copy of the "Legislature's report" on Matt Shea from 1 December 2019. It was actually compiled by the Rampart Group, LLC. According to the report...
...Rampart Group LLC Investigators were engaged by the Washington State House of Representative on July 29, 2019 to perform an independent investigation regarding Representative Matt Shea, District 4. Rampart Group LLC Investigators commenced on July 29, 2019, with a fact-finding investigation that included identifying and locating witnesses and other sources information, conducting interviews, reviewing documents and correspondence,and researching and assessing online news media and open
source reporting related to allegations concerning Representative Shea previously identified in the public domain...
The scope of the investigation as directed by the Washington State House of Representatives included the following directives:
source reporting related to allegations concerning Representative Shea previously identified in the public domain...
The scope of the investigation as directed by the Washington State House of Representatives included the following directives:
- Determine whether Representative Shea was engaged in, planned, or promoted political violence against groups or individuals
- Identify the extent of Representative Shea' s involvement with groups or individuals who promote, engage in or plan political violence against group or individuals, and the nature of the activities in which these individuals or groups are engaged
- Assess the level of threat of political violence posed by these individuals and groups
Rampart Group LLC operated with total independence throughout this four-month investigation...
Investigators had no past or present professional, social or otherwise relationship with any members of the Washington State House of Representatives, Representative Shea, witnesses or other confidential sources of information...
Representative Shea declined to be interviewed in this Investigation...
Investigators had no past or present professional, social or otherwise relationship with any members of the Washington State House of Representatives, Representative Shea, witnesses or other confidential sources of information...
Representative Shea declined to be interviewed in this Investigation...
Originally posted by TrappedinCalifornia
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