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The founder of a neo-Nazi group based in Florida has been convicted in a plot to attack Maryland’s power grid.
Some shit you should know before you read: Back in 2023, the DOJ unsealed a federal criminal complaint alleging that Brandon Russell, the co-founder of the neo-Nazi group “Atomwaffen Division,” conspired with Sarah Beth Clendaniel (his girlfriend) to carry out a coordinated attack on Baltimore-area power substations. Prosecutors claimed that Russell provided his girlfriend with logistical guidance, including maps of infrastructure, strategies for maximizing damage, and advice on when to strike—specifically during peak energy use in the winter. Clendaniel, based in Maryland, allegedly planned to use a high-powered rifle to target multiple substations in quick succession, believing that a few well-placed shots could “completely destroy this whole city.” Court records revealed that Russell encouraged her by stating the plan would work and even sought assistance in helping her obtain the weapon. Authorities said the pair’s intent was to cause massive blackouts, disrupt critical services, and incite social unrest, aligning with Russell’s belief in “accelerationism”—a far-right extremist ideology advocating for violent societal collapse.

What’s going on now: Yesterday, a court convicted Brandon Russell of conspiracy to damage an energy facility, finding him guilty of plotting a neo-Nazi-inspired attack on Baltimore’s power grid. The jury reached its verdict in less than an hour, proving that Russell played a key role in orchestrating the plan, even from his home in Florida. US Attorney Erek L. Barron condemned Russell’s actions, stating, “Hate-fueled violence has no place in a civilized society. Brandon Russell went well beyond his First Amendment rights, orchestrating a terrorist plot that would have harmed thousands of innocent people.” Prosecutors argued that Russell’s involvement—recruiting Sarah Beth Clendaniel, providing strategic guidance, and coordinating efforts—made him a central figure in the conspiracy, despite his defense team’s claims that he merely shared publicly available information.
Lawyers for Brandon Russell argued that he was not an active conspirator in the plot but rather a passive participant who merely shared publicly available information. His defense maintained that federal agents initially targeted Clendaniel and later sought to implicate Russell by relying heavily on a confidential informant. His lawyer said, “He was not a conspirator. He was a cheerleader.”

This all comes as growing concerns mount over the vulnerability of the US power grid, with previous sabotage incidents highlighting the risks posed by batshit crazy people targeting critical infrastructure. In late 2022, a series of attacks on electrical substations in North Carolina left tens of thousands without power, with authorities suspecting deliberate acts of domestic terrorism. Similar incidents have occurred across the East Coast, including gunfire attacks on substations in Washington and Oregon, raising alarms about the ease with which small-scale attacks can cause widespread disruption.
In addition to domestic threats to critical infrastructure, US officials and security experts have been warning about the growing risk of cyber and physical attacks from foreign adversaries, including Russia, China, and Iran. Intelligence agencies have repeatedly cited attempts by state-sponsored hackers to infiltrate the US power grid, with some breaches successfully gaining access to critical systems. Security experts have warned that the decentralized and aging nature of the grid makes it a prime target, as damaging just a few key substations can trigger cascading failures across entire regions.