Thread by @AliVelshi

1/15
For the last year or so we’ve been warning about the infiltration of Q-Anon conspiracy theorists into our federal government. #velshi

2/15
Many of the January 6th Insurrectionists, if they weren’t wearing logos of their own far right or militia groups, were seen with Q Anon shirts, flags and another paraphernalia. #velshi

3/15
They believed and espouse fantastical and ridiculous conspiracy theories, including that democrats and the media are part of a Satan-worshipping, pedophile and baby-eating cabal. Or at least that’s what they were in their early days. #velshi

4/15
They seem to have found new comfort in vaccine denial and, of course, in the Big Lie that the 2020 election was fraudulently stolen from the former President. QAnon once thrived in the darkest corners of the web. #velshi

5/15
While we still find traces of QAnon on our Aunts and Uncles’ Facebook pages, the movement has largely dissipated on the internet. But that’s not good news, because they are reappearing on a ballot near you. #velshi

6/15
After their failure on 1/6, dozens of QAnon followers are attempting to lay a more durable claim to our federal seat of gov't. According to Media Matters, at least 40 ppl running for Congress in 2022 have expressed some level of support for the QAnon movement. #velshi

7/15
The state with the highest number of QAnon candidates is - you guessed it - Florida.
And politically, 38 of the 40 candidates are Republicans. There are two Democratic QAnon candidates, you wonder? Nope. The other two are Independents. #velshi

8/15
Here’s what we’re working with: Ignacio Cruz is a Republican running for Congress in California. After he was accused of supporting QAnon, Cruz released this statement on official campaign letterhead. #velshi

9/15
“From what I researched online, QAnon believes the following: If not for the election of Donald Trump, a worldwide cabal of satan-worshipping pedophiles that rule the world and control everything, would continue ruling the world. Where do I sign up?” #velshi

10/15
Here’s another Republican running for Congress in California. This guy gets straight to the point. He took to Twitter last year: Ask me anything G Money asks, Do you support the Q movement? Yep! No beating around the bush there. #velshi

11/15
He later deleted the tweet & told Axios he didn't recall sending it nor does he endorse Q. This is dangerous stuff. QAnon lies & people die. Right now, fueled in part by QAnon adherents, a massive COVID disinfo campaign is convincing Americans not to get vaccinated. #velshi

12/15
In 2020 at least two candidates - Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert - who had publicly sympathized with Qanon, won their elections and are now members of the United States Congress. #velshi

13/15
The rest of the GOP may not bow to the QAnon Gods but giving these conspiracy theorists comfort and aid in the Republican Party makes them accomplices. #velshi

14/15
This isn’t about your politics anymore - this is about conspiracy theorists spreading lies that are undermining the Republican Party and American democracy, and endangering the health and lives on Americans. #velshi

15/15
It’s time for the Republican Party to expunge these conspiracy theorists from its ranks. For the sake of democracy. #velshi