A California sheriff working for governor defended his previous affiliation with a far-right militia group, saying he’s “very proud” to have been a member of the Oath Keepers.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, joined the stage with six different candidates Tuesday evening to make a case for why he must be the subsequent governor. In a heated change between Bianco and Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, a former mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa referred to as out Bianco’s previous affiliation with the right-wing group.
“You realize, you’re an Oath Keeper,” Villaraigosa mentioned. “Everyone knows that.”
“And I’m very pleased with that,” Bianco responded. “I’m very pleased with it.”
The Oath Keepers took half within the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and a former spokesperson for the group testified in 2022 that the group needed to steer an “armed revolution” the day of the assault.
“I spent a couple of years with the Oath Keepers, and I can let you know that they could not prefer to name themselves a ‘militia,’ however they’re,” mentioned Jason Van Tatenhove, a former nationwide spokesperson for the Oath Keepers. “They’re a violent militia.”
At a trial for members of the Oath Keepers who attacked the Capitol, prosecutors mentioned the group’s chief, Stewart Rhodes, and his followers stockpiled weapons for doable use by “fast response pressure” groups at a Virginia resort, however in the end by no means used the weapons.
Final month, President Donald Trump’s Justice Division moved to throw out the seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers leaders who have been sentenced to jail phrases for his or her position within the assault. Rhodes, who was sentenced to 18 years in jail for his position within the assault, was pardoned by Trump together with greater than 1,500 different rioters final yr.
Evelyn Hockstein/The Washington Publish by way of Getty Pictures
Throughout Tuesday evening’s debate, CNN moderator Kaitlin Collins requested Bianco to make clear his stance on the Oath Keepers.
“I’ve sworn an oath thrice to defend my structure,” Bianco mentioned. “And everyone that desires to love, once more, lie and get all emotionally spun up in regards to the Oath Keeper group. I simply would, earlier than you try this, and I do know none of you’ve gotten, I need you to go learn the mission assertion of the Oath Keeper mission assertion and the ACLU –”
Villaraigosa reduce him off: “I noticed them on CNN attacking the Capitol.”
An agitated Bianco gave a weird response again.
“I noticed a politician molesting children,” Bianco mentioned. “Does that imply you molest children?”
“What?” a shocked Villaraigosa requested.
“Precisely,” Bianco responded. “Don’t pull out these silly statements and count on to not be referred to as out.”
As sheriff, Bianco seized greater than half 1,000,000 ballots solid in a November particular election from county election officers, saying he’s investigating a poll depend discrepancy.
Bianco is one in every of two outstanding Republicans working for governor, and main Democrats within the state are anxious their social gathering has so many candidates that they threat splitting the vote and sending a Republican onto the overall election.
Requested by Collins if he nonetheless considers himself a member of the Oath Keepers, Bianco mentioned “no.”