Ford Fischer Profile picture
Apr 12, 2024 19 tweets 14 min read Read on X
BREAKING THREAD: On April 11, Russell Vane IV - the subject of my reporting who allegedly attempted to provoke a Virginia militia group into producing explosives - was arrested.

He is charged with "Attempted production of a biological agent or toxin."


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2) According to the criminal complaint, the FBI received multiple tips after I published the story about Vane - who went by Duke - on April 1.

He apparently tried to legally change his name on April 3, the same day a false obituary of him appeared.

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3) The feds cite my reporting, where I show unclassified government documents that the Virginia Kekoas militia members were allegedly handed by Duke, and he later appears to acknowledge giving them.






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4) The FBI says they learned "In coordination with one government agency" that Duke had printed off the documents on February 12 "Based on government records."

This appears to imply Vane has a job at the "government agency" or at least he has work access to government files. Image
5) The documents were allegedly printed as early as February 12 before being given to the militia on March 9.

A big mystery: Why, on February 27, did Duke appear to claim someone else had been arrested for doing the same?


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6) So, apparently, feds raided Russell Richardson Vane IV aka Duke's house, where they allegedly found evidence that he was extracting ricin, a toxic poison, and arrested him.

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7) Vane is currently in federal custody and faces a detention hearing on Monday.

As I previously reported, he is definitely not dead, as claimed by an obituary and someone on his phone talking to @HannahAllam.




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8) To reiterate: According to this federal criminal complaint, Vane printed documents about explosives from "his work computer" and walked out of "a secure government facility" with them and handed them to a militia group.

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9) While I'm not aware of any elements of the story taking place in Washington DC itself, it appears this arrest was conducted by a Joint Terrorism Task Force out of the Washington DC (not Virginia) field office. Image
10) Side note: Duke has an account on Airbnb, where he lists five places for rent.

"Lives in Vienna, VA"

"I'm obsessed with: Chemistry"

"Ask Duke about Shooting sports"

"My biography title: Read This Vainglorious Thing"

airbnb.com/users/show/125…Image
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11) I need to reiterate: My story came out April 1.

On April 3, an obituary for Russell Vane IV appeared online.

That same day, Vane walked into a courthouse alive and allegedly attempted to legally change his name.

12) At the moment, which "government facility" Russell Vane IV worked at is unclear, but here's the federal connections I can point out for him and his father (Russell Vane III):

-He was once a Marine Intel Specialist ()

-He then worked at Booz Allen Hamilton, a military/government/intelligence contractor. ()

-He allegedly told the militia he worked for the CIA ()

-He later insinuated to the group that he worked at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) or United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (NGIF)

-He provided the group documents marked as coming from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and NGA

-His father Russell "Russ" Vane III worked as a Data Scientist for geospatial intelligence company OGSystems () and his Facebook says "Worked at DHS" (Department of Homeland Security) ()

-Vane IV has now been arrested by the FBI.





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"A whole lot of houses burning and going kaboom. I wonder if some subversive force has released some literature and is encouraging these explosions?"

-Duke allegedly weeks after leaving his job at a secure government facility with bomb making documents.

These words were allegedly spoken by Duke less than a month after allegedly walking out of a “secure government facility” per the federal affidavit with explosives-related documents printed from his work computer.
15) I missed one federal agency Duke has apparently been affiliated with: Russell R Vane IV is listed as staff at the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) in their 2007 publication Survey of Current Business.

google.com/books/edition/…Image
16) Ironically, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Vane/Duke's employer in 2007, moved to the Suitland Federal Center in 2016.

This is the same facility Vane pled guilty to bringing guns into for a job interview in 2010.



bizjournals.com/washington/bre…
17) NEW: A LinkedIn profile appearing to portray Russell Vane IV exists online titled "Russell V" allegedly with a TS/SCI clearance.

This profile says he has worked at Deloitte since 2015, where he has "Briefed multiple intelligence agencies."

linkedin.com/in/russell-v-3…



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18) The Linkedin says Vane/Duke previously worked at OGSystems (the same workplace as his father at the time ) and Booz Allen Hamilton ().

Both of these are consistent with my and @HannahAllam's prior reporting.

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@HannahAllam 19) The LinkedIn also describes him performing "Classified Intelligence Analyst Work" with the Marine Corps at Quantico (consistent with ) and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) (consistent with my reporting as well ).

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More from @FordFischer

Jun 16
THREAD: The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force has arrested Peter Stinson, accusing him of threatening to assassinate Trump.

Stinson is a veteran and founder of "May Day on the Mall," which Rep Eric Swalwell spoke to just two days ago. Image
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2) The FBI is clearly well aware of Stinson's leadership role in the Mayday Protest Movement, which they point out in page 4 of their indictment.

The timing, this arrest occurring right after Swalwell addressed the group, is uncanny.

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3) The posts Stinson allegedly wrote that the FBI say constituted criminal threats against President Trump go all the way back to 2020, and continue on X (then Twitter) until 2022. Image
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Read 15 tweets
Jun 15
VIDEO THREAD: Police in Los Angeles pushed heavily using less-lethal munitions to break up "No Kings" and anti-ICE demonstrators in the downtown area.

Officers declared an unlawful assembly and tear gassed the crowd.

Video in thread contributed by Neil Radimaker for @N2Sreports
2) Police made arrests and advanced against the crowd in a line of mounted horses ahead of gassing the crowd again.
3) Protesters and press retreated from blooms of tear gas and poured liquids on their face in an attempt to recover.

(News2Share contributor Neil Radimaker reported vomiting.)

Protesters in the distance could be seen within the plume of gas with their hands up.
Read 8 tweets
Jun 13
VIDEO THREAD: Anti-ICE protesters gathered again outside the loading bay of a federal building in downtown LA on Thursday evening, where police declared an unlawful assembly.

Officers pushed into the crowd, firing a less lethal round and arresting at least one person.
2) A man (not clear to me which agency) pointed a scoped rifle directly into the crowd of protesters and press as police threatened arrest.

The activists celebrated a small victory as a judge temporarily enjoined the National Guard from being deployed at Trump's directive without California's executive approval, a decision which has since been overturned.

Some activists, but one in particular, vehemently instructed the crowd to obey the order to leave, which ultimately fragmented the crowd.
3) A handful of protesters ended up inside of a kettle formation, which closed in on and arrested them.

Two vehicles adorned with pro-immigrant and pro-Palestine symbols were also towed from inside the kettle.
Read 5 tweets
Mar 15
VIDEO THREAD: Protesters assembled Friday afternoon on the National Mall to demand Congress invoke the 14th Amendment to remove Trump from office as an "insurrectionist."

"It's not exaggeration, and it's not melodrama," said the program's MC Cliff Cash. "Donald Trump is a Russian asset."

"Traitor! Traitor!" yelled the crowd, who held a variety of signs condemning Trump as well as Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance.

"Serve no kings," read one banner with a guillotine drawn on it.
2) Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn spoke out, describing that he had a PTSD attack seeing this anti-Trump crowd, many of whom are veterans wearing military gear etc.

"The last time I saw everybody like this, they were beating the s*** out of me and my coworkers at the Capitol," he said, to which the crowd yelled "traitors!"

"November 5th, we had an opportunity," he added. "We f***ed it up!"

"They cheated" an audience member yelled, to which Mr. Dunn replied "maybe."

He says some people with "backbone" need to use the 14th Amendment, Section 3, to get Trump out of office.
3) I spoke to a man wearing a "weed-based ghillie suit."

He says conservatives "need to smoke more weed."

"This whole thing about not smoking weed in the government, they've gotta get over that," the weed man said.
Read 7 tweets
Mar 1
VIDEO THREAD: Hundreds participated today in the Transgender Unity Rally and march from the United States Capitol to the White House.

"Protect trans kids!" they chanted. "Out of the closet, into the streets!"

"Trans rights are human rights!"
2) Bree Taylor, Executive Director of the Trans Unity Coalition, described inviting members of Congress to the rally, but none showed up.

"Where are they?" the crowd asked.

Senator Chris Van Hollen sent a letter which was read out loud: "One of the most despicable things about Donald Trump is that he goes after the most vulnerable members of our society."

"We are all Americans, and we all have the right to live as our true, free selves."

"These are wonderful words, and only that. Where the f*** are you?" asked Taylor, who called him hypocritical over a prior vote on an NDAA amendment defunding trans affirming care for minors.

"We cannot rely on those who have nothing but empty, hollow words," Taylor added.
3) "Hey hey, ho ho, transphobia's got to go!" chanted protesters as they arrived at the White House. "What do we want? Trans rights! When do we want them? Now!"

"This is our place to be free to be who we want to be!" one speaker described, beginning an open mic south of the White House at the Ellipse.
Read 8 tweets
Feb 21
VIDEO THREAD: Proud Boys Enrique Tarrio, Joe Biggs, Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola as well as Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes had a "reunion" this afternoon outside the United States Capitol, beginning at the original January 6 breach point on the west side.

All were granted pardons or commutations by Trump following decade+ prison sentences.

"Whose house?" they chanted as they posed for a photo. "Our house!"

"Whose desk?" yelled Richard "Bigo" Barnett, who was photographed with his feet on Rep Pelosi's desk on January 6.
2) Tarrio calls the Proud Boys chapters not recognized on his website (such as those that marched on Inauguration Day) "not legitimate."

"They've created their own faction," he explains. "Those are not Proud Boys."

He wouldn't answer say if he's the National Chairman again.
3) As Proud Boys and Stewart Rhodes walked around the Capitol, they joked "tactical formation, look out!"

"We don't want anyone to think we're stacking!" one said, referencing the Oath Keepers' formation on January 6, before Joe Biggs led the group in mimicking it.
Read 14 tweets

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