"California Statehouse Candidate Linked to Jan. 6 Attack Promotes Antisemitic Conspiracy Theory"

"California Statehouse Candidate Linked to Jan. 6 Attack Promotes Antisemitic Conspiracy Theory"

A candidate for the California State Assembly, who was identified by USA TODAY as having entered the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection, has been found spreading bizarre anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, according to recent research. Meanwhile, a report highlights the presence of extremism within the U.S. military. In a related incident, a boat displaying Nazi flags attended a pro-Trump flotilla in Florida but was not welcomed.

This captures the ongoing events of the week in extremism.

CA State Assembly Candidate Promotes Unusual Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories"

In March, USA TODAY conducted an investigation into Denise Aguilar Mendez, a candidate for the California State Assembly, revealing her involvement in the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Online researchers identified her in a video entering the Capitol that day. Although Mendez has not been charged for her actions, new research by the left-leaning watchdog group Media Matters for America highlights her promotion of an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory.

On Friday, the Sacramento Bee revealed that Republican candidate for California Assembly District 13, Ana Aguilar, pleaded guilty to welfare fraud in 2020, resulting in a 20-day jail sentence. Aguilar serves as a candidate for a district encompassing cities like Stockton, Tracy, and much of San Joaquin County. She secured 37.9% of the vote in the March 5 primary and is set to face a Democratic opponent in the upcoming election.

In 2019, Aguilar was involved in spreading a conspiracy theory that the 2019 California power grid shutdowns were not fire prevention measures but instead an effort to stop the Rothschild family, a prominent Jewish family, from child trafficking. The claim was flagged by Media Matters as a bizarre and antisemitic conspiracy.

In the same video, Aguilar further alleges that the Rothschild's control U.S. finances through the Federal Reserve, which she described as a privately-owned entity controlled by influential families. Aguilar co-founded a group called Freedom Angels, known for political organizing and opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns, including a May 2020 protest in Sacramento that drew around 1,000 participants.

The Sacramento Bee article also detailed her 2020 plea deal, which included a 40-day jail sentence (reduced to 20), three years of probation, 120 hours of community service, and restitution of $10,984. Aguilar served her jail sentence in February 2023. She has not commented on the recent revelations.

"Report: Growing Extremism Among US Military Personnel"

According to a recent report by the Associated Press, an increasing number of U.S. military veterans, including those with training in explosives and battlefield tactics, are becoming involved in extremist ideologies after their service. The story highlights the case of Chris Arthur, a former Army cavalry scout who served two tours in Iraq. After leaving the National Guard, Arthur became involved in far-right extremism. In May, he was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after being convicted of weapons and bomb-making charges.

The AP's analysis of domestic terrorism data reveals that while radicalization has increased across the general population, veterans are radicalizing at a faster pace. Notably, extremist plots involving individuals with military backgrounds are more likely to include weapons or firearms training compared to those without such backgrounds.

Efforts to address extremism within the military have largely faltered. Following the January 6 insurrection, several recommendations were made to address this issue. However, as of last year, most of these measures have not been implemented, as reported by USA TODAY.

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