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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
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
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Mar 23
Here at Lancaster Public Library in Pennsylvania, both supporters and protesters had permits and planned to gather over a Drag Story Time.

The event, slated to start at 1pm, has now been cancelled after a “suspicious package” was reportedly found.
#Lancaster
Read 16 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Feb 27
VIDEO THREAD: Bodycamera footage has been released showing a Chicago Police Officer last month blindly firing his gun toward a child who had been playing with fireworks, missing every shot.

The shooter was one of three cops responding to a faulty "ShotSpotter" alert of gunfire.
2) A Ring camera shows the child playing with a ball and fireworks.

About 15 seconds in, the fireworks ignite, followed immediately by police gunfire.

"No, it's just fireworks!" the child says about 28 seconds in.
3) A second bodycam from the January 25 incident was also released.

This officer erroneously reports "shots fired at police" but unlike his fellow officer, he does not shoot in the direction of the unarmed child.
Read 6 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Feb 27
VIDEO THREAD: Pro-Palestine activists burned an Israeli Flag outside the Israeli Embassy tonight while playing the audio of U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell's self-immolation here from just one day ago.

"This is in solidarity with Aaron, who burned his body. At the very least, we can burn the Zionist flag," one said.

"If we burn, you burn with us!" the group chanted.

"Quit your jobs!" they chanted at police guarding the building.
2) "You killed that man!" an activist yelled at Secret Service guarding the Israeli Embassy. "You pulled your guns out instead of a fire extinguisher!"

Ashes from U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell's self-immolation remained on the sidewalk beside the officers' feet.
3) "In a selfless and devastating act of immolation, this service member laid down their life to spotlight the struggles, the injustices, and the relentless pain endured by countless individuals every day in Palestine. His last, true, words were 'Free Palestine.'"
Read 10 tweets
Ford Fischer Profile picture
Feb 20
VIDEO THREAD: As Julian Assange's defense team argues against his extradition from London to the United States, protesters outside the Department of Justice demanded "Free Julian Assange!" this afternoon in DC. "No extradition!"

@codepink's @medeabenjamin said "Julian Assange, the one who wanted the world community to know about the war crimes that were being committed. Julian Assange, who understood how powerful truth can be. And yet here he is, languishing in prison. Here he is, potentially, very soon to be extradited to the United States."

"We know he has done nothing wrong. On the contrary, if anything, he should be awarded for having told the truth."
2) Esther Iverem @SeeingBlack also spoke at the @AssangeActionDC rally outside DOJ, tying the prosecution of Assange to the current conflict in Gaza.

"We know that Wikileaks told us more than a decade ago about Israel's intentional genocide of the Palestinian people."
@SeeingBlack @AssangeActionDC 3) "Drop the charges, we shall not be moved!" sang singer, political activist, and community organizer Luci Murphy. "Free Assange, we shall not be moved!"

The audience sang along: "Just like a tree that's planted by the water, we shall not be moved."
Read 8 tweets

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