Right-wing lawmaker Shea criticizes investigation’s report ahead of release

Republican state Rep. Matt Shea, who is under investigation for his extensive ties to far-right extremist groups, on Thursday blasted an outside investigative report that has yet to be released by the state House of Representatives.

Members of the Democratic-run House are to be briefed on the report Thursday and is expected to be released Friday.

“ ‘I will not back down,”' Shea said. “ ‘I will continue to fight for our shared values that have made this country such a blessing to the rest of the world.

Shea said he has been denied any opportunity to review and respond to the report, prepared by an outside investigator.

“ ‘Due process is the right of every citizen, and should be afforded to all members of the House regardless of their views or party affiliation,’ ” Shea said.

The investigative team, headed by a former FBI agent and a former law enforcement officer, was hired in July to determine whether Shea engaged in, planned or promoted political violence against individuals or groups. It also sought to identify the extent of his involvement with groups or individuals who promote or plan political violence.

Earlier this year, reports of a 2017 online chat that included Shea surfaced in the Guardian and later were expanded by The Spokesman-Review newspaper. That chat indicated the lawmaker joined a discussion in which others suggested violence against left-wing protesters.

Based on transcripts of the chat, there’s no indication Shea advocated violence himself, although at one point he offered to do background checks on political opponents.

The texts came after Shea, a lawyer who was first elected n 2008, attracted international attention after a document he wrote laid out a ‘'biblical basis for war” against gay marriage and abortion. He later said that the document was taken out of context.

Shea has also pursued creation of a 51st state in eastern Washington that would be called Liberty and run on biblical principles.

The Army veteran hosts a weekly show on the American Christian Network and in 2017 complimented members of Team Rugged, a group that one member said provides special forces type gun training for young men so they can be effective in Christian warfare.

Shea last year lost a House leadership position after acknowledging he distributed the “biblical basis for war” document that also calls for killing non-Christian males who refuse to follow fundamentalist biblical law.

Democratic and Republican politicians have demanded his resignation.

The Spokesman-Review has reported that Shea compiled dossiers on liberal Spokane city council members, sought to purchase GPS trackers, maintained a list of suspected informants and had anti-Islamic views.

Shea in 2016 visited the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in support of its armed occupation by two sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and also went to Bundy’s ranch in 2014 during the Bundy-led standoff with FBI agents in a dispute over grazing rights.

Shea is popular in his very conservative district and was re-elected in 2018 with 58% of the vote.

If legislators ultimately expel Shea, he would be the first Washington state lawmaker ousted since 1933.