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State Senator Pushes Governor To Probe Oath Keepers In Law Enforcement, Military
By
George Joseph
Published Oct 4, 2021
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By
George Joseph
Published Oct 4, 2021
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Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie has called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to make a commitment towards “eradicating” extremism after a WNYC/Gothamist report revealed apparent links between New York law enforcement and military personnel and the Oath Keepers, an armed, anti-government group whose members allegedly played a role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January.
In a letter sent to the governor on Friday, Myrie called the extremist militia a “grave threat to public safety” and asked Hochul to clarify what steps are underway to investigate and identify members of the group within the ranks of law enforcement and military in the state.
“New Yorkers must have confidence that those entrusted with protecting our communities share a common opposition to extremist violence and paramilitary nationalism,” Myrie said in the letter.
The senator specifically flagged Edward Keyrouze, the chief of staff for the New York Guard, whose name appeared in membership logs that were hacked from the group and passed to a non-profit focused on internet transparency, which published the data last week.
The New York Guard is a state volunteer force. Keyrouze reports to the Governor and is also a civilian employee of the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, which oversees approximately 20,000 military personnel and guard members across the state.
In an email to WNYC/Gothamist, Keyrouze admitted to signing up for The Oath Keepers, but said he was not actively involved with the organization and had never participated in any of its activities. But in the logs, the entry associated with the New York Guard staffer refers to his ability to “recruit from NY Army & Air Guard, NY State Guard & USCG [Coast Guard] Auxiliary.”
In response to Myrie’s letter, Hazel Crampton-Hays, a spokesperson for Governor Hochul, confirmed that her office was examining the issues raised by the state senator and is reviewing the “situation at the New York Guard.”
“Governor Hochul has zero tolerance for extremist views and hateful intolerance,” Crampton-Hays said.
Keyrouze did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the letter.
Gothamist/WNYC’s initial investigation also identified two NYPD officers who appeared to have signed up for the militia, alongside dozens of current and former law enforcement members across the state.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said any officers who had pledged loyalty to the group should be fired. Speaking on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show on Friday, the mayor said specific leads would be investigated, but that he would not direct the city to examine all members of the NYPD for possible extremist ties.
Tagged
new york city
zellnor myrie
nypd
new york
extremists
Governor Kathy Hochul
Oath Keepers
George Joseph
George covers Brooklyn for THE CITY with a focus on criminal justice and housing. He previously worked for WNYC and Gothamist, and has published stories with NPR, ProPublica, Esquire, and The Intercept among other outlets.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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