{"id":22,"date":"2026-05-07T09:10:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T09:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/accusations-fly-at-california-governors-debate-over-oath-keepers-what-to-know\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T09:10:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T09:10:44","slug":"accusations-fly-at-california-governors-debate-over-oath-keepers-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/accusations-fly-at-california-governors-debate-over-oath-keepers-what-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Accusations fly at California governor\u2019s debate over Oath Keepers. What to know"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A debate Tuesday between candidates for governor in California featured a sharp clash over the Oath Keepers organization.<\/p>\n

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The Oath Keepers is described by some as a far-right anti-government extremist militia group.<\/p>\n

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Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, accused Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, of being a member of the organization at the debate, The Sacramento Bee reported.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd I\u2019m very proud of it,\u201d Bianco said. In response to a question from moderators, Bianco clarified that he was proud to have taken an oath of office, but went on to defend the Oath Keepers organization.<\/p>\n

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Bianco previously said he joined the Oath Keepers in 2014, The Sacramento Bee said.<\/p>\n

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Asked whether he still considered himself a member at the debate, Bianco said \u201cno,\u201d KXTV reported.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s what to know about the Oath Keepers:<\/p>\n

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What are the Oath Keepers?<\/h2>\n

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Founded by Stewart Elmer Rhodes III in 2009, the Oath Keepers are considered a \u201cfar-right anti-government extremist militia group,\u201d according to the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University.<\/p>\n

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The organization is a \u201clarge but loosely organized collection of anti-government extremists who are part of the broader anti-government \u2018Patriot\u2019 movement, which includes militia and \u201cthree percenter\u201d groups, sovereign citizens, and tax protesters, among others, the Anti-Defamation League said.<\/p>\n

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Who are the Oath Keepers?<\/h2>\n

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The organization recruits primarily \u201cactive-duty military personnel and veterans, active and retired law enforcement officers, and others with desirable paramilitary and survival skills,\u201d the Program on Extremism said.<\/p>\n

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What are the beliefs of the Oath Keepers?<\/h2>\n

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The ideology of the organization closely aligns with the militia movement that spawned it in the early 2000s. Members believe the United States government is collaborating with a one-world international conspiracy called the New World Order, the Anti-Defamation League said.<\/p>\n

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They believe the conspiracy seeks to strip Americans of their rights, most notably the right to keep and bear arms, the league said.<\/p>\n

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The Oath Keepers themselves argue they are defending the U.S. Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic, in keeping with military oaths.<\/p>\n

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What events have the Oath Keepers been involved in?<\/h2>\n

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The Oath Keepers took part in a 2014 standoff with federal authorities at the Bundy Ranch in Nevada and also participated in the Jan. 6, 2020, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the Program for Extremism said.<\/p>\n

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Six members of the Oath Keepers, including Rhodes, were convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy following the attack. President Donald Trump later pardoned them.<\/p>\n

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