Six Wisconsin Office-Holders Found on Extreme Right-Wing Database
Friday, September 9th, 2022 -- 9:00 AM
(Terry Bell, WRN & WBAY) Six local elected government officials in Wisconsin have been members of an infamous far-right, anti-government group.
The six are among hundreds of members of government, law enforcement, and the military around the country who signed up at some point with the Oath Keepers, According to leaked documents from the Anti-Defamation League.
The Oath Keepers is a group associated with the January 6th attack at the U-S Capitol. The A-D-League admits that being in the Oath Keepers' database is not proof that they ever were part of the group, or that they agree with its views.
Madison city council member Gary Halverson, for one, tells WKOW-TV he joined in 2020 without vetting the organization, and quit as soon as he realized his mistake.
The Anti-Defamation League confirmed to WKOW-TV its organization found the following people in the Oath Keepers' database:
- Gary Halverson: Alderman – Madison, WI
- Stan Wekkin: Village President – Village of North Hudson, WI
- Randy McHugh: Village Trustee – Village of Sullivan, WI
- Darla LeClair: Vice President – City Council of Two Rivers, WI
- Rodney Stanek: Village Board Trustee – Village of Holmen, WI
- Rick Richard: District 8 County Supervisor – Rock County Board
The membership of the far-right extremist group Oath Keepers, which is accused of playing a role in the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, was leaked Wednesday. The list contains more than 38,000 names, including people who work in positions of authority.
The Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism says it identified 370 people it believes currently work in law enforcement, more than 100 members of the military, and more than 80 who are running or served in public office. The list includes 600 who signed up in Wisconsin, with 14 law enforcement officers or first responders, service members, or politicians.
One of them is Darla LeClair, who serves as vice president of the Two Rivers City Council. She says she briefly joined in 2009 but was misled about what the organization stood for. “I quickly realized that their true philosophy did not mirror my own, and I quickly cut ties with them. I am upset and embarrassed that after so much time has passed my name is still associated with them,” LeClair told us.
LeClair said her membership lasted less than 2 months. Others on the list who were contacted by media around the country also said their attachment to the Oath Keepers was minimal.
Some said they never paid dues, never attended meetings or received literature, or were on the list because they paid to access content on the group’s website. At least 26 Oath Keepers have been arrested in connection with the insurrection.
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