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

Mar 14
VIDEO THREAD: Armed gun owners in Virginia showed up outside the State Capitol in Richmond this afternoon to rally against new gun control measures awaiting signature from Governor Spanberger such as bans on the sale of "assault weapons" and large capacity magazines in the state.
2) Under the anticipated Virginia law, sale of 30-round magazines would be illegal beginning this summer.

Magpul donated boxes of 30-round AR-15 magazines which were distributed to the crowd for free, whose possession would theoretically be grandfathered in.
3) Police confronted a man over having a suppressor on his rifle, which they apparently isn't allowed per a new ordinance in Richmonf.

"F***ing a**holes. F*** them. Tyrants," he explained, without complying. "They can go f*** themselves. This is my American right right here."
Read 12 tweets
Mar 12
THREAD: The suspect in today's shooting at Old Dominion University has been identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh.

Jalloh had been convicted of providing material support for terrorism after being in contact with ISIL and at least one FBI informant and FBI undercover agent. Image
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2) In 2016, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh entered the FBI's radar when an FBI Confidential Human Source (CHS) was in contact with an unindicted co-conspirator (UCC1) allegedly in ISIL.

UCC1 referred CHS1 to meet with Jalloh, which the FBI surveilled. Image
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3) Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, who allegedly killed a retired military officer during an ROTC class today, told the FBI informant in 2016 he quit the military after watching lectures by Anwar al-AuIaqi, the Islamic cleric and U.S. Citizen President Obama killed in a drone strike in 2011.

He reportedly admired Mohamed Yousef Abdulaziz, who killed 5 U.S. service members in 2015.Image
Read 15 tweets
Jan 19
VIDEO THREAD: Armed gun rights activists rallied at the Virginia State Capitol on Monday to protest proposed gun measures under new Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger.

The Virginia Kekoas militia wore "Boogaloo" style attire for the first time publicly since 2023.

"All the rights, for all the people, all the time" explained the group's leader, who goes by ICE (which is not a reference to the agency of the same name). "We're just going back to our heritage, where we started."

"Things are a little bit more serious this year," explained the Kekoas member who goes by Sasquatch. "This is our unofficial battle cry!"

"I swear I'm not a swinger," he clarified, referencing the pineapples on his Hawaiian shirt.
2) "I'm generally a pretty liberal person, but when I saw videos of ICE jumping out of unmarked vehicles and nabbing people off the street, that's when I bought my first AR15," one attendee of the gun rally explained.

"We're facing tyranny right now, and I want to be prepared if that stuff comes to my neighborhood."

"Tyrannical government, whatever your take on it, that's the point of these bad boys right here," Virginia Kekoas militia member call-sign cross responded to that position, slapping the butt of his rifle.
3) The Virginia Capitol lawn was closed off to attendees carrying firearms, splitting the crowd into those carrying and not.

A man dressed as George Washington attempted to argue with police that his musket is "not a firearm" but was not allowed to pass.
Read 11 tweets
Jan 17
VIDEO THREAD: Pardoned January 6er Jake Lang attempted to hold an anti-Muslim "Crusader March" in Minneapolis today where he was swarmed with hundreds of counter-protesters.

Scuffles broke out, and one of his members sprayed mace around the crowd.
2) Amidst "Feels like -7 F" degree temperatures, protesters sprayed Lang and his crew with water guns as well as silly string while drowning him out with music over a loudspeaker.

Lang apparently was prepared to leave, but couldn't find a path as protesters continued to physically challenge him and his group.

"Let them leave!" some protesters yelled.
3) Lang, who fought police with a baseball bat at the Capitol on January 6, was struck with a wooden stick by a counter-protester.

He grabbed it, briefly holding it up in triumph and keeping control of it until it was grabbed out of his hands.
Read 7 tweets
Jan 15
VIDEO THREAD: Federal agents deployed tear gas, mace, and sting balls against a growing crowd at the scene Wednesday night in Minneapolis following a shooting by ICE.

Some protesters shot fireworks and threw snowballs at the agents, many of whom carried rifles.
2) Agents moved fast while trying to evade the crowd. In one case, the feds got into the bed of a truck, dropped pepper spray and had to get out to grab it before a firework was thrown at them, for which they threw tear gas in return.
3) The scale of the conflict was enormous, spanning a few blocks in each direction from the shooting, lasting a couple hours.

Protesters exchanged fireworks and tear gas on one side of the shooting scene as others engaged with police on the opposite side.
Read 7 tweets
Jan 4
VIDEO THREAD: Pardoned January 6er Jake Lang held a "Crusader" rally outside AIPAC Sunday afternoon, throwing (chocolate) gold coins at attendees dressed as politicians and suggesting "their Jewish money" has caused a "brownification of America."

A couple counter-protesters including former elected official Patricia Eugenio demonstrated against Lang and his group.

FOOTAGE FOR DOCUMENTARY, NEWS PURPOSES ONLY.
2) Ivan Raiklin, an advocate for the January 6er's, confronted Lang at the podium.

While maintaining a cordial tone, he said Lang has "got it all wrong" by focusing on immutable attributes rather than "deep state traitors" "based on their actions, and actions alone."
3) Lang and Raiklin jokingly wrestled for the mic before Raiklin suggested that "You're about a block away from your employer, right? FBI Washington Field office?"

"Says the guy who never got indicted for January 6!" Lang replied.

"I'm that good!" Raiklin replied. "I run feds."
Read 15 tweets

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