Matt Shea (R), WA State Legislator Suspended, Asked to Resign Over Extremism

[TrappedinCalifornia]

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...

...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.

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...

...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:

• 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

The 108 page report goes on to make a point of specifically noting...

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...

As I stated in the National Guard thread...

...The conundrum (and the problem) comes in relation to who is designating the 'undesirables' and the criterion/criteria being used. As I observed in the OP, the same group has concerns related to Gun Owners of America and how the NRA has been influenced by them. Isn't that the refrain we often hear... "I support the Second Amendment, but...?" Isn't that the same as... "I don't want to tread on the Constitution, but...?"

At what point does "radical Islamic fundamentalist" (a legitimate concern) become... "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the NRA or Gun Owners of America?" Where is that 'bright line' between differing opinions and dangerous views vis a vis Free Speech, the right to freely assemble, etc.? If it is akin to the 'pornography' definition - "I know it when I see it." - is that simply an inevitable 'discomfort' in a free society or is it an hazardously slippery slope in terms of what is viewed as 'acceptable?'...

[ronlglock]

TL;DR. 1 sentence synopsis please.

[Jimi Jah]

Democrats don't believe in the democratic process. They prefer the government to select it's leaders.

[John Browning]

This is exactly how you get a shooting Civil War. I'm convinced that the liberals know this, and are intentionally pushing things this direction.

God help us. China is just sitting, watching and waiting for us to complete our own distruction.

[woolymanx]

John, I believe china is actually pulling these strings. Someone is bank rolling these anti gun politicians. Look at Australia recently. Big gun buyback, china walks in and starts bottling up water and running farmland dry. The timing is suspect to me. I'm watching New Zealand closely too now. I'll put money on a big chinese firm coming in and taking over. Much easier to do when the population isnt armed.

[M76]

A so-called "Right Wing Extremist" is anyone who stands in the
way of "left wing extremists" hellbent on anti-American tyranny.

[Aeneas]

I'll bet they really hated the "Biblically Dealing with Tyranny" portion. It pretty much puts the Left on notice.

[snowdog650]

So, how can one be engaged in "domestic terrorism activity" when the trial of the event itself (Malheur) saw the acquittal of all defendants?

[John Browning]

John, I believe china is actually pulling these strings. Someone is bank rolling these anti gun politicians. Look at Australia recently. Big gun buyback, china walks in and starts bottling up water and running farmland dry. The timing is suspect to me. I'm watching New Zealand closely too now. I'll put money on a big chinese firm coming in and taking over. Much easier to do when the population isnt armed.

They are the big winner in all this, so your idea makes sense.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

So, how can one be engaged in "domestic terrorism activity" when the trial of the event itself (Malheur) saw the acquittal of all defendants?

Uh... Not all were acquitted. If you follow the link in the OP to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge incident, you will find 27 were indicted for one thing or another. They dropped the charges on one. Twelve plead guilty. Seven were acquitted. Four were convicted. Seven were sent to prison. Thirteen were fined. One was killed.

I linked to the report provided to the Legislature. However, that same Wikipedia piece notes...

On December 1, 2019, an investigation commissioned by the Washington House of Representatives reported Washington state legislator, white supremacist Matt Shea had planned and participated in domestic terrorism on at least three occasions. This included his participation, organizing, planning, and promotion of the 2014 Bundy standoff in Nevada, the 2015 armed conflict in Priest River, Idaho, and the 2016 armed seizure of the Malheur Refuge. Shea led a delegation of right-wing legislators from Oregon, Washington and Idaho that met with law enforcement on January 9, 2016, in Burns, Oregon where they were appraised of confidential intended law enforcement strategies for dealing with the refuge occupiers. The state House district's Republican Representative Cliff Bentz, attended the meeting, despite being warned by Harney County Judge Steven Grasty to decline the invitation. Bentz did, however, warn western Oregon state Representative Dallas Heard, from Roseburg, that it would be "inappropriate," for Heard to attend, though Heard ignored the advice. Shea then disclosed those details to the Bundys, according to the report.

Bear in mind that we are in a time when "domestic terrorism" is becoming and/or has become a focus; whether due to actual threats or political rhetoric. Here is the Department of Homeland Security Strategic Framework For Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence. It is a 40-page work. In a footnote on page 4...

The Department defines domestic terrorism

However, you will find in reading the 34 pages of text that "violent extremism" and "target violence" are terms used far more frequently. As an example, on pages 10 and 11...

Targeted Violence. Many perpetrators of mass attacks do not appear to fit the definition of terrorists because they lack a clear ideological motive...

In other words, there are a number of things the Government has begun lumping together; though maybe not technically, at least in general principle...

One change is that more diverse sets of actors and motivations now pose significant security concerns than at any time since 9/11. Domestic terrorists, motivated by racially- and ethnically-motivated violent extremism, anti-government and anti-authority violent extremism, and other violent extremist ideologies, represent a growing share of the threat to the Homeland...

Even if the underlying rationale and ideologies motivating them differ, terrorism and targeted violence are addressed together in this Strategic Framework because they necessitate a shared set of solutions. They overlap, intersect, and interact...

[kenl]

The way I read this; the left is targeting a republican pol/vet for allegedly doing what they HAVE been doing of the last 50+ years.

sounds about right.

[DrjonesUSA]

TrappedinCalifornia; what is your point / take / opinion on this?

[flyinbronco]

and here's a link to his campaign website where you can donate money to help get him re-elected. https://voteshea.com/

[TrappedinCalifornia]

TrappedinCalifornia; what is your point / take / opinion on this?

There are a couple of purposes to this thread. The simplest is that the "Bundy" situation is one discussed and/or raised on this site previously and this thread is just a continuation of the on-going saga. Another is that the situation encompasses and/or touches on a number of topics and some of the 'rhetoric' which is posted on this site every day. But, mostly, it is here to get people to think and discuss, in both a narrow and broad way, those things.

I alluded to one of those potential topics in the OP with...

...The conundrum (and the problem) comes in relation to who is designating the 'undesirables' and the criterion/criteria being used... Where is that 'bright line' between differing opinions and dangerous views vis a vis Free Speech, the right to freely assemble, etc.? If it is akin to the 'pornography' definition - "I know it when I see it." - is that simply an inevitable 'discomfort' in a free society or is it an hazardously slippery slope in terms of what is viewed as 'acceptable?'...

Think of it in terms of "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" or "obscenity is in the eye of the beholder."

Unfortunately, for some, that drifts into TL;DR territory, where any discussion involves something longer than Twitter-length posts, quick drive-by 'commentary,' and/or more consideration put into a response than is willing to be dedicated. For others, it will bring up a certain level of discomfort; which can be a good thing when being faced with the positions they hold. For still others, it could become a search for something to 'counter punch' against rather than having to face their own... beliefs/opinions(?).

That is precisely why I haven't, overtly, stated my opinion. Were I to do so, that would become the focus of the thread, miss the point, and detract from the possibilities. There are a number of legitimate points to be made and conclusions (even 'lessons') to be drawn from this situation. Superficially, there is a realization that this didn't spring up overnight and the 'campaign' over Shea has been on-going for several years and, to a certain degree, is bipartisan.

7/29/19 - Independent team signed for Shea investigation

...The contract lists the “scope of the investigation” as determining whether Shea has engaged in, planned or promoted political violence against groups or individuals and identifying the extent of his involvement with groups or individuals who promote, engage in or plan political violence. It also will assess the level of the threat of political violence posed by these individuals and groups.

House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, of Yelm, said he thinks the contract was properly structured to find investigators who are competent and not biased.

“It’s right to investigate concerns about political violence…to find out if there’s truth or there’s not,” Wilcox said. “It’s not right to investigate people’s political beliefs.”

House Chief Clerk Bernard Dean agreed the focus of the investigation will be on Shea’s activity: “This not an investigation of his views.”...

Although, there have been clear cut elements of... extreme bias... which have emerged.

9/4/19 - To expel or not to expel Matt Shea, that may be the question

That article begins by noting that Shea would be the second 'expelled' from the Washington State Legislature; the first being a Democrat in 1932 who "had been convicted in December of 'carnally knowing and abusing' a 12-year-old girl," then pardoned by the Governor so he could assume office. It then goes on to... subtly(?)... proffer...

...Shea, a Spokane Republican, has not been charged with any crime. At least not yet. Still, he could face ouster next year for, to put it politely, conduct unbecoming a citizen legislator.

Private investigators hired by the Democrat-controlled House are assessing the extent to which Shea’s efforts to reshape the world in line with his views pose a threat to his political foes, fellow lawmakers and the institution in which he’s served since 2009...

This situation will test the mettle of incoming House speaker, Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma.

In May, she and the rest of her caucus called on House Republican leaders to publicly reprimand Shea. That hasn’t quite happened.

In a letter, Democrats made clear they’d thought Shea had already crossed the line, noting that if lawmakers remained “indifferent” then “we believe that as a legislative body we will not truly serve all our constituents and this institution.”...

That letter is dated 5/3/19, long before either the preliminary or final report came out, several months before Rampart Group, LLC was named to do the investigation, and immediately references 'chat room' contact from 2 years previously; not even noting the Malheur/Bundy incidents. (That is something which might allude to another potential topic for discussion in this thread.)

The point is that, as I just stated, there are a number of legitimate points to be made and conclusions (even 'lessons') to be drawn from this situation. In that sense, it is best to let members discuss what they see as the points/conclusions/lessons in that it could be interesting to see what different individuals 'see' and what they think they 'see' in this. As a result, my opinion, for the moment, isn't the point. I'm not passing the buck or attempting to obfuscate my opinion. What I'm saying is that it is better to allow for some 'discussion' before delving too deeply into my specific opinion on the matter.

[17+1]

This is exactly how you get a shooting Civil War. I'm convinced that the liberals know this, and are intentionally pushing things this direction.

God help us. China is just sitting, watching and waiting for us to complete our own distruction.

John, I believe china is actually pulling these strings. Someone is bank rolling these anti gun politicians. Look at Australia recently. Big gun buyback, china walks in and starts bottling up water and running farmland dry. The timing is suspect to me. I'm watching New Zealand closely too now. I'll put money on a big chinese firm coming in and taking over. Much easier to do when the population isnt armed.