The militia group occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon has devolved into infighting as participants deal with harsh realities. Although they wish to start an armed confrontation with the government, at this rate their operation may sabotage itself before such an event occurs.
An initial point of contention at the refuge was the spending of donation money by one of the occupiers, Joe “Captain O” O’Shaugnessy. Allegedly, “Capt. O” ran off with loads of donation money to drink in a nearby motel after an argument over whether people should bring their children or wives to the occupation.
Another member of the ragtag militia group named Brian “Buddha” Cavalier was quick to abandon the occupation after his former confidants learned that he lied about serving in the military.
Most recently, Lewis Arthur, a man from a group called “Veterans on Patrol” claims to have visited the occupation with three men on Wednesday to remove a “radicalized” and “suicidal” veteran with PTSD. According to several reports by Arthur’s group, Blaine Cooper sucker-punched one of Arthur’s men, sending him to the hospital with a concussion and a re-arranged face.
Defeated by the Enemy Within: Oregon Militia Descends into Fist Fights and Paranoid Chaos