We've located some old social media accounts for Michael Helterbrand, one of the arrestees from "The Base" murder conspiracy in Georgia.
Although his radicalization may go back further, M.H. was using Alt-Right terminology in 2016 and was a clear white nationalist by late 2017.
Although his radicalization may go back further, M.H. was using Alt-Right terminology in 2016 and was a clear white nationalist by late 2017.
Useful overview of The Base arrests:
In early Nov 2017, Helterbrand created an account on Twitter as "Mike". archive.is/DOtZJ
An early post from November 4, 2017 referenced the far-Right rumor that "antifa" planned to launch a civil war that day.
Account proclaimed desire to "fight and die" for white race.
An early post from November 4, 2017 referenced the far-Right rumor that "antifa" planned to launch a civil war that day.
Account proclaimed desire to "fight and die" for white race.
( Background on the November 4 2017 "civil war" rumors spread by far-Right:
politicalresearch.org/2017/10/31/rum…
&
atlantaantifa.org/2017/11/15/atl… )
politicalresearch.org/2017/10/31/rum…
&
atlantaantifa.org/2017/11/15/atl… )
The Twitter account created in Nov 17 followed Trump, Donald Trump Jr. & Eric Trump. It also followed a variety of far-Right accounts including racist Ann Coulter, neo-Nazi & former Klansman David Duke, and "Alt-Right" white nationalist Richard Spencer... also two QAnon accounts.
Helterbrand's account commented to a now-deleted Twitter profile for white nationalist podcaster Norman Asa Garrison III AKA "Spectre".
It is possible Helterbrand followed that account before it went the way of Garrison's other Twitter accounts.
It is possible Helterbrand followed that account before it went the way of Garrison's other Twitter accounts.
In addition, Helterbrand may have followed a now-suspended account for Michael Hill -- the leader of the white supremacist/Southern secessionist League of the South -- since Helterbrand retweeted someone's reply to Michael Hill.
In February 2018, Helterbrand commented that "real Americans are getting ready for a civil war".
Michael Helterbrand created a second Twitter account as "Mike Hildebrand" in February 2018. archive.is/hKlur
There, Helterbrand described himself as "anti-communist" and "politically incorrect". The profile is less explicitly white nationalist than his earlier one.
There, Helterbrand described himself as "anti-communist" and "politically incorrect". The profile is less explicitly white nationalist than his earlier one.
In April 2018, Helterbrand apparently had trouble with his luggage - containing a couple of firearms - while flying back to Atlanta from St. Louis MO.
Does anyone recognize the flag in the background?
Backtracking a bit: on Reddit, Michael Helterbrand made a couple of comments on r/TheDonald in late 2016, including one with the term "cucks" -- a favorite pejorative of the Alt-Right at the time.
This suggests that M.H. already had Alt-Right sympathies at that time.
This suggests that M.H. already had Alt-Right sympathies at that time.
We don't think they are particularly relevant politically, but the account contains personal details.
At the time of the Reddit posts, Helterbrand was in recovery from drug & alcohol abuse.
Helterbrand possibly kept his kink/sexuality a secret to his later neo-Nazi associates.
At the time of the Reddit posts, Helterbrand was in recovery from drug & alcohol abuse.
Helterbrand possibly kept his kink/sexuality a secret to his later neo-Nazi associates.
Last year, Helterbrand used the same handle as his Reddit account to list firearms/parts on Outdoors Trader and AR15 dot com.
Okay, it's a Pabst Blue Ribbon flag. Thanks to those who pointed that out!
