Leaked Oath Keepers’ list includes hundreds of cops, dozens of elected officials

In order to prepare for civil war, the anti-government group Oath Keepers has recruited law enforcement and military into local chapters.

As reports tracked a string of violent events leading up to Oath Keepers' involvement in the Capitol riots, it was difficult for outsiders to understand how effective the nonprofit group's recruitment really was. The data leak was published in the fall of 2021. The Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism was able to cross reference public data on listed members and map out how far Oath Keepers has come in furthering its mission to establish a hold in mainstream seats of power.

In a report published this week, COE identified 373 people in the Oath Keepers database believed to be active law enforcement officers, 117 people who seem to be currently serving in the military, and 81 public officials who either currently hold or are running for public office in the next five years.

According to the report, the hundreds of people identified as likely active law enforcement was far higher than any previously identified number of extremists within law enforcement.

Their report showed that Oath Keepers was affiliated with more than just people who held power. One in ten of the people in the database had served in the military, according to the leaked list.

The total number of Oath Keepers in the database affiliated with law enforcement, military, or public office could be higher. "It is possible that these numbers do not fully account for individuals who may have moved a significant distance, those who do not have an online presence, and those who do not self-identify their profession on their social media pages."

Not every law enforcement or military member involved with Oath Keepers would be included in the database, according to the report. Oath Keepers had a policy that allowed members currently serving in law enforcement and the military to join the organization without signing up.

This is not proof that an individual is still an Oath Keeper even though they are listed in the database. In order to confirm any suspected ongoing affiliations with Oath Keepers, individual assessment of the individual must be done.

The AP spoke to a few people who said they were no longer associated with the group. Having no access to a local chapter was one of the reasons why Oath Keepers quit. Others who made comments in the database leak didn't seem to consider their membership passive. A staff sergeant in the Army wrote, "I am still active and do not like the direction America has been going the last 10 years." It's up to men like me to make a difference.

COE told Ars that this is just the beginning of their inquiry into Oath Keepers' seemingly increasing access to people in power. The COE will continue to track the Oath Keepers and their activities in the public eye.