Despite an apparent surge in membership following the 2020 presidential election, the Oath Keepers are facing significant new obstacles to spreading their message and raising money since some of their members were arrested after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. An examination of the militant group’s website by BuzzFeed News found a steep decline in the number of new member accounts registered since January.
The group gained widespread attention when a cluster of people, kitted out in tactical gear and the Oath Keepers insignia, were captured on video forming a military-style “stack” formation and forcing their way into the US Capitol building. More than a dozen individuals associated with the group have been charged in federal court with conspiring to block the certification of Joe Biden as president. If convicted, they could face years or even decades in prison.
In their 12 years of existence, the Oath Keepers have grown to become one of the most prominent far-right organizations in the country, with close ties to politicians and members of law enforcement. Rhodes is a frequent guest on Alex Jones’ conspiratorial internet show, and the Oath Keepers have provided security to Trump allies, such as Roger Stone, as well as at high-profile events including the “Million MAGA March.”
More than 12,000 individual accounts labeled as “members” are publicly searchable on the Oath Keepers’ website, according to BuzzFeed News’ analysis.
The apparent bump in membership in late 2020 was consistent with what has happened when the group got involved in other high-profile, politically charged showdowns. Over the years, current and former members say, Rhodes has repeatedly made a point of putting the organization front and center in such events, bringing it publicity and, in turn, new recruits and fresh donations, which he often solicits in press conferences, interviews, and online postings.
BuzzFeed News’ analysis suggests, for instance, that last June and July, as members of the Oath Keepers showed up to provide what they called “security” at Black Lives Matter protests in cities around the nation, the website gained more than 1,100 new registrations, compared to fewer than 200 over the same two-month period the prior year.