HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A new breed of sheriff candidates around the West are promising to guard against unrestrained federal power.
At least a dozen candidates in other states from California to Montana are running for office on an intepretation of the Constitution they say means the sheriff is the highest law enforcer in the land, even above federal agents.
The candidates are part of a loosely organized nationwide movement called the Oath Keepers, which is enlisting law enforcement and military personnel to vow to refuse 10 orders they say are unconstitutional, from confiscating guns to warrantless searches.
Critics call the Oath Keepers a dangerous anti-government “patriot” group recruiting on the edges of the militia movement and taking advantage of the anger and fear-mongering in some tea party circles.
