Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Arizona GOP nominee kept ‘Treason Watch List’ and posted about stockpiling ammunition on Pinterest

Former president Barack Obama made the alleged ‘treason watch list’

Graig Graziosi
Tuesday 16 August 2022 20:07 BST
Comments
Arizona Republican describes threats from Trump supporters

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A self-proclaimed member of the extremist right-wing gang the Oath Keepers who is running on the Republican ticket for Arizona secretary of state, reportedly shared anti-government rhetoric, advised stockpiling ammunition on social media posts, and kept a "treason watch list."

CNN reports that Mark Finchem, who won a primary in Arizona and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, allegedly took to social media and a now-deleted Twitter account to spread conspiracy theories about the government.

Mr Finchem's social media posts reportedly include an account on Pinterest — commonly used by people to build wedding inspiration albums or save recipes — which he used to keep a "treason watch list." The list included photos of former President Barack Obama alongside images of a man in Nazi attire making a Nazi salute. Civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and former Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly made his treason watch list.

He is said to have kept another Pinterest board called "thought provoking" that featured images comparing Democrats to Nazis. Some of the posts also called for stockpiling ammunition and claimed gun control measures would lead to another Holocaust.

One of the images he reportedly pinned claimed that a "war in America" would have "no rules of engagement."

Mark Finchem
Mark Finchem (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Rules of engagement are generally followed by the military to mitigate civilian casualties and atrocities against prisoners of war.

Other conspiracies reportedly found on Mr Finchem's boards included claims that the Mexican Army was secretly probing the US ahead of a full-scale invasion, and suggestions that Sharia law was going to be implemented in the US.

In other social media posts he apparently said gun ownership in the US should be obligatory and that Satan ruled over the US.

In 2014 Mr Finchem said he was a member of the Oath Keepers and said he was "committed to the exercise of limited, constitutional governance." A now-defunct Twitter account for one of his state representative races included the phrase "Join Oath Keepers" in its bio.

Members of the Oath Keepers were arrested in connection to crimes that occurred during the Capitol riot. Mr Finchem was present at the Stop the Steal rally on 6 January, 2021, but claims he did not participate in the Capitol riot. He has not been charged with any crime relating to the events of 6 January, 2021.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in