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The organization was instrumental in planning the deadly January 6 Insurrection on the Capitol
CONCORD, NH – New Hampshire Public Radio reported this morning that State Senator Bob Giuda was among the 297 New Hampshire residents found to be members of the Oath Keepers, the far-right, violent, anti-government organization responsible for plotting the January 6 Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, following a hacked leak of their membership rolls.
In their reporting, Sen. Giuda confirms his membership in the organization, saying “I left that group years ago,” and that he “wasn’t comfortable with the way the group was being run.” Despite this assertion, the Senator failed to provide evidence he cut ties with the organization, and failed to provide detail on exactly how long ago his association with the group lapsed.
The Anti-Defamation League classifies the Oath Keepers as a “loosely organized collection of right-wing anti-government extremists” with an “explicit focus on recruiting current and former military, law enforcement and first responder personnel”.
On January 13, Steward Rhodes, founder of the organization, was arrested on charges of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol along with 10 other members of the Oath Keepers.
Also named in the leak was former New Hampshire Senate Majority Leader and current Lobbyist, Robert Clegg, a repeat donor to Sen. Giuda’s senate campaigns.
In response, NHDP Chair Ray Buckley has released the following statement:
“The January 6th Insurrection was a direct attack on our democracy by a violent mob that threatened the lives of elected representatives from across the nation — including the lives of our own federal delegation. The idea that any New Hampshire elected official —especially a sitting State Senator — would expect to remain in office after having known associations to that organization is a sick joke. It’s no surprise Bob hid this information from his constituents and colleagues in the State Senate,” said NHDP Chair Ray Buckley. “If Senator Giuda truly is no longer a member of this organization, it is absolutely essential he immediately provide corroborating documentation to show this is the case. Now.”
On January 8, 2021, two days after the Insurrection, Sen. Giuda posted on Facebook that “Congress scattered like rats on a sinking ship,” following the attack and “should Trump concede? No. He cannot set a precedent by accepting this blatant fraud.”
One year later, on January 6, 2022 he posted that investigations into January 6 were a “declaration of war against all republicans,”
Background:
WMUR: Oath Keepers founder, 10 others charged with seditious conspiracy for Jan. 6 attack at U.S. Capitol
Combating Terrorism Center at West Point: The Oath Keepers and Their Role in the January 6 Insurrection