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Ford Fischer Profile picture
@FordFischer
Apr 12, 2024 • 19 tweets • 14 min read • Read on X
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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.





facebook.com/russ.vaneImage
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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

Ford Fischer Profile picture
Oct 6
DHS, using a violent felon as an informant who they say "may be assisting law enforcement in the hopes of future payment" has charged alleged Latin Kings member Juan Martinez with soliciting the murder-for-hire of a law enforcement official in "Operation Midway Blitz." Image
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2) According to the feds, Martinez, going by the name "monkey****" wrote on Snapchat “2k on info cuando lo agarren,” or “$2,000 on information when you get him" and "10k if u take him down."

justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/a…Image
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3) While the complaint calls the alleged victim "a senior law enforcement member of the Border Patrol Operation Midway Blitz," Chicago Tribune says a source identified the alleged target as Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.

chicagotribune.com/2025/10/06/chi…

x.com/FordFischer/st…
Read 4 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Oct 5
VIDEO THREAD: Protesters briefly blocked traffic nearby the Broadview ICE facility Saturday night, but Illinois State troopers arrived, promptly shouting at them "OUT OF THE ROAD NOW!" and forming a police.

"Move back!" the troopers yelled as they used batons to push the crowd.
2) “Get back!” Yelled Illinois Troopers as they continued to push the crowd after they got off the road.

“You could have killed her” a protester yelled after another toppled over. “She hit her head!”

“Unlawful assembly!” repeated the trooper in command.
3) Illinois troopers approached and took the man who had originally led the group to march on the street onto the ground, arresting him.

“Shame! Shame!” The crowd yelled at police, calling them “Gestapo.”

“Get out of the street!” troopers yelled back.
Read 7 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Oct 5
VIDEO THREAD: Crowds confronted ICE agents in Brighton Park, Illinois after agents shot a woman there who they say had blocked their vehicles while armed with a gun.

Some threw objects at ICE vehicles, and agents replied by tossing tear gas out the windows and at crowds.
2) ICE agents threw tear gas into the Brighton Park neighborhood, with canisters ending up on bystander porches and under parked cars.
3) ICE, CBP, ATF, and FBI agents gathered near the scene of the shooting, where protesters yelled at them as well.

One agent danced along to chants of "No hate! No fear! ICE is not welcome here!"
Read 6 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Oct 3
VIDEO THREAD: Illinois State and local police joined forces with ICE and other federal agents to push back protesters outside the Broadview ICE facility, making several arrests Friday morning.

Unlike prior weeks, agents used blunt force rather than chemical irritant weapons.
2) As protesters attempted to block ICE vehicles from entering or exiting the facility, Illinois State troopers pushed them aside, in some cases even physically picking them up, placing them on the grass nearby, and making arrests.

ICE agents waved as they drove by.
3) "Get back!" shouted Illinois State troopers using batons as they shielded ICE agents in vehicles from the protesters.

Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills, who has previously been critical of ICE, watched the situation closely, in person.
Read 5 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Sep 19
Just now: Woman protesting outside Broadview ICE facility is shot repeatedly with sting balls, thrown to the ground, and ultimately maced point blank in the face as she attempts to block ICE agents from leaving the facility in a vehicle.
After initially appearing to let the woman go, ICE agents approached the circle of activists attempting to treat the woman’s facial burns from mace, and arrested her, bringing her into the ICE facility she has been protesting today.
Shortly after that protester who had been maced, shot with less lethals, and thrown to the ground was taken inside the ICE facility, an ambulance arrived there as well.
Read 5 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Sep 13
Documentary video thread: The New York Young Republican Club led a vigil for Charlie Kirk Friday night in New York City.

Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia led mourners in prayer: "May the God of all consolation embrace his wife and children with tender mercy and grant them strength in this hour of sorrow."

"That bullet did not kill Charlie Kirk. It made him immortal forever, a martyr in our movement!" said NYYRC President Stefano L. Forte. "We are all Charlie Kirk Now!"
2) "In Charlie Kirk's memory, let's make sure we keep free speech alive!" said Republican Mayoral candidate Curtis Silva. "Let it not be in vain!"
3) "He honestly was one of the reasons that I actually woke up and learned how to think for myself," one mourner says of Charlie Kirk.

Others praised Kirk primarily for his dialogues with college students.
Read 5 tweets

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