Senator Scott Baldwin is among the burgeoning list of state and local officials across the country. Those are the names that show up on a purported membership list for the Oath Keepers. It is a far-right anti-government militia group with connections to the January 6th Capitol insurrection.
Moreover, the list does contain Baldwin’s name and thousands of others which was releasing to journalists by a whistleblower group.’
Senator Scott Baldwin Denies Membership in Group
Baldwin, a Midwest Republican, was denying he was a member of the group. He said he made a $30 donation to the group. It was during his unsuccessful campaign for local County Sheriff in April 2010. Yet, he has had no communication or interaction with the organization since.
Though, initially, he said he has had no recollection of any ties to the group.
“They are apparently changing significantly since I spoke to one of their representatives. But if you listen, you’re running for county sheriff. Then you are approaching by the organization that bills itself as a pro-constitution and pro-second amendment. Yet it makes sense to make a $30 donation,” he said. “I still don’t really know what they are.”
He said although was not a member, the amount of his contribution does correspond to the cost of an annual membership in 2010. This is according to an archive of the group’s website. For that amount, donors will receive official membership status. Plus a membership certificate “suitable for framing.” It is a laminated membership card, two Oath Keepers bumper stickers, and an outreach “start-up kit,” the website said.
The U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Baldwin, and a former Indianapolis Police Department office did stop short of denouncing the organization.
“Moreover, I’m not familiar with the organization. In fact, as I already said, but I can certainly say I don’t support the violence that took place on January 6th,” Baldwin said when he was asking if he would disavow the group.
Thus, Baldwin was listing in a file that does purportedly does contain tens of thousands of names of Oath Keepers members. They were releasing to journalists by the whistleblower group Distributed Denial of Secrets. Moreover, the information was part of data hacked from the Oath Keepers website.
