Chairman Takano Releases Staff Report on the Recruitment of Veterans by Domestic Violent Extremist Groups, Announces Follow Up Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released a majority staff report entitled, "Report on Domestic Violent Extremist Groups and the Recruitment of Veterans.” This report is based on findings from the Committee’s October 2021 investigative hearing highlighting why domestic violent extremist groups, including the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, and Three Percenters, target veterans in their recruitment efforts. On Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 10:00 AM ET, the Committee will hold a follow up investigative hearing entitled “Helping Veterans Thrive: The Importance of Peer Support in Preventing Domestic Violent Extremism.”At this hearing, Members will examine various risk factors that place a small but growing number of veterans at risk for extremist violence, and identify and evaluate civil society efforts to combat domestic violent extremism. 

Read the full report here. 

“Since the fall of 2020, the Committee has been working diligently to understand the threats posed by domestic violent extremist groups, why these groups specifically recruit veterans, and the risk factors which may draw some veterans to extremist ideologies,” said Chairman Mark Takano. “As part of our investigation, my staff put together a comprehensive report following our hearing last fall on domestic violent extremist groups and why they target veterans. Next week, our Committee will reconvene to hear the veterans’ side of the story and better understand why veterans join these groups and the role peer support networks may be able to play in supporting radicalized and recruited veterans. This Committee is charged with helping veterans in need—that includes the small but growing number of veterans ensnared by extremist groups. I look forward to continuing the conversation at our hearing next week where we will hear from leading researchers and civil society groups that are deeply invested in supporting and extricating veterans from extremist groups.”

Full hearing details:

THURSDAY, March 31, 2022      

FULL COMMITTEE INVESTIGATIVE HEARING — HYBRID     

“Helping Veterans Thrive: The Importance of Peer Support in Preventing Domestic Violent Extremism”

10:00 AM ET; HVC-210, YouTube  

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