Supervisor denies support of Oath Keepers group in Capitol breach

According to reports from multiple media outlets, the name of Appomattox County Board of Supervisors member John F. Hinkle, who represents the Falling River District, appeared on a leaked membership list of the Oath Keepers group that has garnered attention for its alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

In an email statement to the Times Virginian, Hinkle said he has no active involvement with the Oath Keepers group, founded by Stewart Rhodes, that is being associated with the Jan. 6 events. Hinkle said that he once made a small donation in 2016 and received a lifetime membership card but has had no further communication with them.

As was reported in a Times Virginian article in February 2020, Hinkle and several other people were interested in starting an Appomattox chapter of the Virginia Oath Keepers. However, a group of county citizens instead decided to form their own local militia.

The Times Virginian article described Virginia Oath Keepers as “a civic organization that seeks to provide education related to constitutional rights, provide training in how to grapple with man-made or natural disasters, and encourage nonpartisan political action.”

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