Freelance Undercover Operative Infiltrates Right-Wing Militias, Provides Documents to ProPublica

Undercover Operation Revealed

John Williams, a wilderness survival trainer, spent more than two years operating undercover within right-wing militias. He did so independently, without informing law enforcement agencies like the police or FBI, or even his own family and friends. His activities involved climbing the ranks of these organizations, gaining access to their leadership and internal communications.

Documentation and Disclosure

Williams collected a significant amount of information during his time undercover, including secretly recorded conversations. He compiled these into a large trove of documents, which he subsequently provided to ProPublica. This material offers a detailed look into the militia movement, including interactions with a new generation of leaders, some of whom are described as doctors and government attorneys.

Escape and Aftermath

On April 1, 2023, Williams retrieved a prepared backpack containing essentials for going on the run, including cash, disguises, lock-picking gear, medical supplies, and encrypted thumb drives. He left his home, fearing that his cover had been compromised and that armed individuals might be searching for him. He spent the night in his car, recording an entry into his diary where he expressed concern that his identity as a double agent was known.

Delivery to ProPublica

The following day, Williams mailed an envelope containing a flash drive and an Oath Keepers medallion to a ProPublica reporter. The documents on the drive detailed his journey, including his infiltration of the top ranks of two prominent right-wing militias. He reportedly slept in the home of an individual claiming to be the new head of the Oath Keepers and accessed their files.