Online petition seeks Rep. Eastman's expulsion from Alaska State House

An online petition was launched today seeking signatures to expel Alaska Representative David Eastman, R-Wasilla, from the Alaska State House. The plea comes just days after leaked membership information showed Eastman as a member of the far-right, militant organization Oath Keepers. Rep. Eastman confirmed his membership with the group and told the Anchorage Daily News that he considered himself a proud member.

The petition says Eastman is a current member of Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia that advocates for the overthrow by force or violence of the government of the United States, and therefore is not qualified to serve in the legislature.

In an interview with NPR, Rep. Eastman, who was at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, said that he did not support any of the actions that took place at the Capitol in terms of the actual storming of the U.S. Capitol. When asked how he squared the fact that the FBI has called the Oath Keepers a paramilitary organization and that he is an elected representative in Alaska, Eastman responded that he's never been asked to engage in any illegal activity or engage in violence.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, many associated with the Oath Keepers have been charged in connection with the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Oath Keeper founder Stewart Rhodes has drawn scrutiny from federal officials. According to national reporting, Rhodes is "Person One," referenced in court filings of roughly 22 Oath Keepers associates charged with the Capitol attack, including 18 accused of conspiracy in the most significant single indictment of the probe.

In a September tweet, Eastman compared a speech by Joe Biden to one by Adolf Hitler. Eastman's tweet also included a link to a Holocaust denial website.