(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte County Commissioner is still dodging allegations that he is associated with what has been labeled a far-right extremist group.

Recently a list of over 38,000 names linked to the Oath Keepers was leaked. Among them were six Indiana elected officials. One of them is La Porte County Commissioner Joe Haney.

Haney has repeatedly denied any formal association with the group.  He spoke exclusively with HomeTownNewsNow to once again clear the record.  According to Haney, he contacted members of the Oath Keepers via email about eight years ago for an article he was writing about firearms. Haney says between 2010 and 2020 he wrote articles on various conservative topics for many websites and magazines. And that’s how his name ended up in their database.

Haney says his political opponents are trying to use the so-called connection to their advantage, but he fears the allegations will sully his personal and professional reputation.