Weird Little Guys

CZM Rewind: Arrested Democracy

20 snips
May 15, 2025
Guest
Darren Huff
Darren Huff, an Oath Keeper member and militia chaplain, dives into the chaotic attempts by conspiracy theorists to challenge Barack Obama's presidency. He recounts the bizarre efforts to seize control of a Tennessee courthouse and the delusions that fueled these actions. The discussion sheds light on the blend of faith and ideology that drove individuals to pursue citizen's arrests. With a mix of humor and gravity, Huff shares anecdotes reflecting the absurdity of these events and the implications for democracy in a heated political climate.
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ANECDOTE

Fitzpatrick's Treason Indictment Attempts

  • Walter Fitzpatrick accused Barack Obama of treason and attempted to indict him via local grand juries.
  • He believed the judicial system was corrupt when his efforts failed and sought backup to enforce his claims.
INSIGHT

Birther Beliefs Rooted in Racism

  • Birther conspiracy beliefs correlated strongly with racial resentment and partisanship.
  • These beliefs were driven more by fear of a Black president than objective facts.
INSIGHT

Citizen Grand Juries in Extremism

  • The concept of citizen-initiated grand juries emerged from extremist movements in the 1970s.
  • These pseudo-grand juries were often used by militias and conspiracy theorists to justify arrests and indictments.
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