The Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia, spread to nearly every corner of Colorado over the past decade, claiming members in various law enforcement agencies, political offices and seats of power, leaked membership rolls show.
Still, three researchers interviewed for this story said, the Oath Keepers have espoused extremist goals since their founding 13 years ago, a fact that would-be members could’ve learned through even cursory research.
Hilkey said as sheriff he responded to a solicitation to learn more about the Oath Keepers, a group that he said was prominent in Mesa County politics at the time. But he said his involvement with the group went no further than that, and he said he never attended any events and never “revisited their website or materials again.”
Hilkey is not the only sheriff on the list. At least five other Coloradans listed as one-time members have either served as sheriff or ran for the office in the past decade. “I no longer affiliate with them and haven’t since 2014,” he said in an email this week. “Nothing to do with the rally, just have differing ideologies. I believe that all elected officials swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and that should be their primary focus.”
Several people on the membership rolls noted firearms or combat experience in their applications. A man from Montrose said he was “qualified on many weapons systems,” while a man from Lakewood wrote, “I can still shoot pretty good.”“I am fluent and proficient with weapons systems; gained all knowledge using and maintaining M4, M240, .50Cal, Mk19, TOWSystem, and sub system,” wrote one Lakewood man, referring to a collection of military-grade weapons.
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