A prominent FBI informant who spent years infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan has raised concerns that far-right violence could impact the contentious 2024 US presidential election. In his new book, *White Robes and Broken Badges*, Joe Moore, a former US Army sniper, details his experiences infiltrating Florida’s KKK chapters and addresses the ongoing threat posed by far-right and white supremacist groups.
Moore’s book recounts his mission to uncover links between law enforcement and white supremacist organizations. He describes foiling a plot by Klan members, who were also prison guards, to kill each other and brings down prominent KKK figures. The book also discusses his role in preventing an assassination attempt on then-candidate Barack Obama and the Klan’s use of Obama’s election as a recruiting tool.
The book emphasizes the ongoing danger posed by far-right ideologies, highlighting concerns that such ideologies could play a significant role in the upcoming election. Moore reflects on the troubling parallels between his experiences and current political climate, stating, “Nothing I witnessed in authoritarian countries scares me as much as what we’re facing at home now.”
Moore’s account comes amid rising concerns about domestic violent extremist groups, with Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin contributing the foreword. Raskin warns about the KKK’s role in organizing and perpetuating violent white nationalism in the US.
Despite the KKK’s diminished power, Moore notes that other white nationalist groups, including militias like the Three Percenters and the Oath Keepers, have emerged. He underscores the challenge of addressing these threats, particularly given his experience with law enforcement infiltration and the reluctance of officials to acknowledge the extent of the issue.
Moore’s book, ghostwritten by Jon Land, also touches on the broader implications of racial ideologies within law enforcement and the potential for these ideologies to influence future generations.
