NEW: A former US Marine, Donovan Crowl, stormed the Capitol as part of an organized militia. My latest for @newyorker, on what he reveals about the role of far-right groups last week and beyond:

Crowl, whose name and role in last week’s events are being reported for the first time in this story, is fifty years old and served in the Persian Gulf in 1990.
Crowl was wearing the crest of the Oath Keepers, a far-right group that recruits former and current law enforcement and military officials. He is also a member of a local Ohio militia that has shown up at political events, sometimes armed.
These are among a number of sometimes overlapping extremist groups that were present last week.
Far-right militias have deep roots in American history, and while several experts I spoke with said Trump had ignited those groups, they also did not believe their fervor would wane after Trump’s departure.
Crowl’s mother and sister, as well as a friend, said he had become increasingly radical and enamored of Trump and pro-Trump conspiracy theorists, and recalled him making racist remarks (something Crowl denied).
In an 80-minute interview, during which Crowl was drinking, he confirmed he had entered the Capitol, but said his intentions had been peaceful. (He also threatened me, told me he wanted to eat the faces of my family members, and said some stuff about phrenology.)
Crowl said his local militia had no plans related to the Inauguration, but also emphasized that his group and others like it will not be going away. His sister said she was ID’ing him in part because of fears related to future attacks.
Crowl was also the subject of intense scrutiny from a group of digital sleuths and citizen journalists. Thank you to everyone who shared their insights as I reported, and to @jsrailton, who has continued his efforts.

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They shouldn't be.

The pattern is:
GOP in power - GOP dictates policy

Dems in power - GOP dictates policy


The Dems shouldn't legislate toward the GOP.

The GOP doesn't represent its constituents.

The GOP can push it's agenda on its own time.

If Dems push an agenda that actually helps people, it'll also actually help the GOP constituency.

The GOP won't. So give them nothing.

The Dems should ignore the GOP just like the GOP ignores the Dems.

Make them pay for every moment of obstruction.

Just a hard press on legislation that is unassailable and shine a light on the GOP.

Constant. Relentless. Unyielding.

Shut them out and shut them down.

The GOP is not a legitimate political party. It is an anti-democratic, fascist criminal syndicate with no interest whatsoever in governance.

Nobody should give them the slightest bit of credit or legitimacy ever again.

Not a fucking ounce.

Nobody should engage them in legitimate debate in Congress.

They should be pariahs and treated as unserious occupants of Congress.

Because these people were totally ok with their colleagues being killed in furtherance of the destruction of the insitution.

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