The Oath Keepers militia was prominently involved in the attack on the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, an event Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., described as “a violent insurrection.” Eleven of its members, including its leader, have been indicted for seditious conspiracy. The Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee of the Alaska House recently held informational hearings about this organization, because one of its members, Rep. David Eastman of Wasilla, is a sitting legislator.
The testimony by multiple experts made clear that Oath Keepers, under the cover of loyalty to the Constitution, actually promotes a violent, revolutionary, anti-government agenda. Troublingly, none of its three Republican members heard any of this testimony, because all three refused to show up for any part of the hearings. Not only is this an abdication of the basic responsibilities of government, it is willful, determined ignorance. These legislators are purposefully ignoring the threat posed to the constitutional system of government by the Oath Keepers, all in the name of protecting a man whose overt racism, antisemitism and extremism is known across Alaska.
By choosing to avert their eyes, these three Republican legislators and all others remaining silent are tacitly condoning his extremist and violent beliefs and allegiances.
— Laura Norton-Cruz
Anchorage
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