A California sheriff running for governor defended his past affiliation with a far-right militia group, saying he is “very proud” to have been a member of the Oath Keepers.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, joined the stage with six other candidates Tuesday night to make a case for why he should be the next governor. In a heated exchange between Bianco and Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, a former mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa called out Bianco’s past affiliation with the right-wing group.
“You know, you’re an Oath Keeper,” Villaraigosa said. “We all know that.”
“And I’m very proud of that,” Bianco responded. “I’m very proud of it.”
The Oath Keepers took part in the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and a former spokesperson for the group testified in 2022 that the group wanted to lead an “armed revolution” the day of the attack.
