(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County official denies that he's a member of the far right-wing militia group Oath Keepers.

 

The name of Commissioner Joe Haney was on a leaked list containing thousands of names of Oath Keeper members across the country. Members include elected officials, police officers, and soldiers.

 

Oath Keepers are accused of playing a pivotal role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The group's founder, Steward Rhodes, was charged with seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6th attack. 

 

Some people on the leaked list, including Haney, have denied affiliation with the group.

 

Haney, a Republican, said he was a credentialed media member doing articles for various publications from 2010 to 2020. During that period, Haney says he wrote articles about firearms and spoke with members of the Oath Keepers via email in 2013 and 2014.

 

His freelance work is likely why he was somehow mistakenly affiliated with the group, he believes. 

 

A photo of Haney holding an assault weapon shows him wearing a vest with a patch that states "Oath Keeper." Haney argues that the term is not specific to the organization, though.

 

Instead, Haney said the "oath keeper" label means he is dedicated to keeping the oath he gave about twenty years ago as a firefighter to protect the federal and state constitutions. Haney says that he feels committed to upholding that oath indefinitely.

 

“That term goes back for a long time. It’s been used by people who have taken an oath and swore to uphold it for time of memoriam,” he wrote in a recent press release.

Haney also suggests the actual logo for the Oath Keepers looks different than the one he wears.

 

Haney, who supports the right to bear arms, said his political opponents would try and use his name on the list to hurt him politically. However, Haney said he doesn't apologize for being one who took an oath to protect the constitution and the second amendment in the constitution.