State Rep. Chris Judy Responds To Alleged Oath Keeper Connection

By Whitney Downard, Indiana Capital Chronicle

September 14, 2022

Rep. Chris Judy, R-Fort Wayne, responded publicly after a national organization tied him to a far-right group whose leaders are facing federal charges for their role in the January 6 insurrection.

Late last week the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism identified thousands of people allegedly affiliated with the Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia group, including nearly 700 Hoosiers. Of those, the IndyStar identified 23 Indiana elected officials, first responders, military or law enforcement members, including Judy.

“I stand by the oath of office I took when I entered the State Legislature, and the oath I took before I deployed to defend my country in Iraq. I will always stand by the rule of law. I have not been affiliated with the group for 7 years,” Judy said in a statement.

At least 26 Oath Keepers face charges in connection with January 6, including 12 leaders charged with seditious conspiracy.

The Anti-Defamation League warned that inclusion on the list shouldn’t be considered proof of their membership or ideology, which included a purported 38,000 members from a 2021 data leak.

Additionally, the organization said that someone may have misunderstood the nature of the Oath Keepers and each person should be assessed individually.

Judy’s response comes after fellow State Rep. Renee Pack called on him to respond to the allegations earlier this week.

“Representative Judy is my fellow military veteran, and I admire his dedication in serving this country,” Pack, D-Indianapolis, said in a statement. “… as (veterans), we swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Any association with a group as violent and anti-government as the Oath Keepers would give any patriot pause, especially after the attacks on our nation’s Capitol on January 6th.”

Last year, Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville, was named a member of the Oath Keepers, which he said stemmed from a $30 donation in 2010. However, the Anti-Defamation League did not include his name on their list.

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