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Ford Fischer Profile picture
@FordFischer
Apr 12 • 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
Jun 12
THREAD: The FBI, relying on the work of a paid Confidential Human Source "CHS" who surveilles from his own vendor booth at gun shows, and an additional undercover agent, have arrested Mark Adams Prieto, who they charge with trafficking firearms and say planned a mass shooting.


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2) The feds say Prieto came to their attention in October 2023, when a paid CHS who had talked to Prieto 15 times in the past, "began making suspicious and alarming comments, including advocating for a mass shooting, and specifically targeting “blacks, Jews, or Muslims.” Image
3) At a January 20-21, 2024 gun show, the feds say Prieto was introduced to an undercover agent at the CHS's vendor booth.

By the second day, Prieto was allegedly sharing details about a planned mass shooting attack against a rap concert to kill Black people.
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Read 10 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
May 26
BIG VIDEO THREAD: Former President Trump received mostly boos from the Libertarians (a small VIP section plus 4 front rows) and cheers of support tonight from his supporters (who got most of the other seats) as he spoke in front of the Libertarian National Convention, who on Sunday will be nominating their own candidate for president.

Trump spoke in front of the "Become Ungovernable" logo featuring the anarchist circle-A.

The speech was unprecedented where for a major party candidate speaking at a rival political party's nominating convention.
2) As the Libertarians (closest few rows to the president) largely booed Trump and the MAGA (about 3/4 of the room, closest to the press riser) cheered him, some Libertarians stood with their backs to the former president during the speech.
3) Some context for this event can be found in the thread below.

Trump supporters filled much of the room about an hour and a half before the Libertarian delegates finished their work in another ballroom.

Delegates ultimately got back four front rows.

Read 25 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
May 10
VIDEO THREAD: Barely a day after their encampment was raided, pro-Palestine activists set up another encampment in front of a George Washington University administrators' building.

In this uncut shot, you'll see the activists set up several new tents by surprise in minutes.
2) Pro-Palestine protesters at George Washington University linked arms after forming their new encampment.

Police formed a line facing them on one side (leaving the other side open) and pushed media and others with a vantage point significantly back.
3) One MPD officer took a quick selfie from the police line.
Read 10 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
May 8
VIDEO THREAD: Police cleared the pro-Palestine encampment at George Washington University early this morning in a pre-dawn raid, arresting dozens and apparently deploying pepper spray.

"F--- the pigs!" yelled activists as police swarmed a wide perimeter around the area.
2) Police and DC Department of Public Works could be seen dumping tents and other camping equipment where the encampment had been at GW.

This comes just hours before Mayor Bowser is set to testify before Congress.
3) As the sun rose near George Washington University, the activist who were not arrested regrouped.

Organizers recommended those who the police had pepper-sprayed go home, and others go to jail support for their detained comrades.
Read 7 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Apr 15
THREAD: I was one of only two media I'm aware of in the courtroom today for a lengthy hearing where the federal government fought to hold Russell "Duke" Vane IV pre-trial.

This thread will be based on my notes and court documents.

No cameras, phones, etc were allowed inside.
2) U.S. Marshals brought Vane into Room 400 of the Eastern District of Virginia Courthouse in a green jumpsuit before Judge William B Porter.

FBI Special Agent Marc Gastaldo, who wrote the criminal affidavit, testified to "multiple positive tests for Ricin" in the past 3 days. Image
3) Defense attorney Geremy Kamens made arguments matching some in this filing.

He noted a relatively small amount of actual Ricin found in Vane's house, no fingerprints as of now, and no proof of when the Ricin was produced.

Judge found probable cause, shifting to detention.Image
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Read 39 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Apr 1
INVESTIGATIVE VIDEO THREAD: The Virginia Kekoas, a pro-gun prepper militia based in Eastern Virginia and formerly affiliated with the Boogaloo movement, tells News2Share that they recently kicked out a member they believe may have been plotting an explosives-related entrapment attempt against the group, or worse.

Russell Richardson Vane IV first made contact with the Virginia Kekoas in April 2022, according to the group's leader Eddie Ray, who goes by "ICE" and member Cody Beckner, who goes by "Sasquatch." Vane allegedly adopted the call sign "Duke."

The pair provided extensive screenshots and documents showing that since joining, Vane - as "Duke" - engaged in an escalating sequence of unusual behavior that included apparent provocations for the group to develop homemade explosives. Homemade explosives lacking an ATF registration are generally a federal felony.

"Sasquatch" and "ICE" spoke exclusively to News2Share to provide a thorough timeline of the events that led up to "Duke" being removed from their organization.

2) ICE and Sasquatch say that upon reaching out to the Kekoas in 2022, Duke identified himself as working for the CIA, but was allowed to remain a prospective member rather than being ejected because they believed he may have advanced knowledge of world-altering events.
3) Within two weeks of joining, the pair say Duke asked about a "group fund." They say no fund exists and members pay their own way, but such a fund could "fall under certain federal laws" like RICO.

ICE says Duke also asked about forming his own chapter and was denied.
Read 54 tweets

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