An Alaska state lawmaker accused of violating the state constitution's disloyalty clause over his lifetime membership in the far-right group Oath Keepers has not condemned the organization.
During his second day on the witness stand in a case that challenges his eligibility to hold office, the Wasilla Republican said he doesn't condemn groups.
He doesn't generally condemn individuals, including any of the 33 Oath Keepers who were charged following the attack on the Capitol, which coincides with the day Congress was certifying President Joe Biden's win over Donald Trump.
The insurrection took place in Washington, D.C. He said he went to see Trump speak on the Ellipse but did not participate in the riot.
There is a provision in the Alaska Constitution that says anyone belonging to an organization that advocates for the overthrow of the U.S. government will not be allowed to hold office. He said in court that he paid $1,000 for a lifetime membership in the Oath Keepers.
A Superior Court judge ordered the state not to certify the election until after the trial is over.
Goriune Dudukgian, an attorney for an Anchorage civil rights firm representing a Wasilla man who brought the lawsuit, presented a Facebook post from the person who wrote it.
If you think that the members of antiFA or any other groups who are attacking police officers at the Capitol are doing so because of something said by the president, then you are wrong.
When the Oath Keepers were not named in the same post, Dudukgian wondered why he named antiFA.
On occasion, I do call out groups.
AntiFA is an umbrella term for militant groups that confront or resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at protests.
Dudukgian said in a social media post that the attack on the Capitol was related to election fraud.
The post said that those who broke the law should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The people who broke the law in violating the integrity of our elections should be brought to justice.
According to Dudukgian, every court that looked at election fraud in the presidential election won had rejected it.
Many courts didn't look at election fraud. He said, "There were courts who were asked to look at election fraud and chose not to do so."
He said anyone who broke the law should be prosecuted, even the founder of the Oath Keepers. A jury found Rhodes guilty of seditious conspiracy.
Dudukgian asked if he thought the indictment was political.
He said that almost everything dealing with January 6 has political motives.
The Oath Keepers weren't called out for their actions in the insurrection.
Oath Keepers are included in that broad category because he called out everyone for their actions.
Dudukgian wondered if the Oath Keepers needed to be called out by name.
Eastman said that he did not.
He was going to be a witness for the defense. He was not available that day.
The judge refused to dismiss the case after Joe Miller asked for it to be stopped.
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