Probing Dan Bishop’s Links to Extremists, Theorists & Jan. 6 Rioters

Congressman Dan Bishop’s connections to conspiracy theorists and extremists raise concerns in his run for North Carolina’s Attorney General

Republican Congressman Dan Bishop is running for Attorney General of North Carolina. However, his associations with far-right extremists, conspiracy theorists, and participants in the Jan. 6 riots have raised eyebrows.

An ultra-conservative, Bishop has been forthright about his connections to far-right fringes, which include groups and individuals who have propagated conspiracy theories, shunned the separation of church and state, and even attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

With the election fast approaching on Nov. 5, a closer examination of Bishop’s engagements reveals a network of alarming alliances.

Far-right affiliations of Congressman Bishop

Bishop has associated with the Claremont Institute, a far-right think tank, and Project 2025 throughout his time in Congress. Notably, the institute has played a significant role in former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Senior Claremont fellow John Eastman has faced multiple federal and state lawsuits for his role in the attempted insurrection, after presenting a scheme to throw out electors and delay certification of the election results to Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.

The Claremont Institute has connections to both white nationalists and conspiracy theorists, including Jack Posobiec, an early promoter of the debunked “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory. Despite these associations, Bishop has spoken at panels hosted by Claremont.

Furthermore, Bishop has connections with the Family Research Council (FRC), a self-proclaimed “pro-marriage, pro-life” organization opposed to abortion rights and LGBTQ equality. He has also attended several events hosted by the American Renewal Project (ARP), a group seeking to instill “biblical values” in government.

Bishop’s endorsement of conspiracy theorists

Bishop has professed himself a “follower” of James Lindsay, a conspiracy theorist who has spread false narratives about a supposed communist takeover of the world, the “white genocide” conspiracy theory, and the Great Replacement conspiracy theory.

He has also boosted racist conspiracy theorists like Mike Benz and Ben Weingarten on social media. Benz, a former Trump official, has propagated theories about government censorship and accused Jewish people of “controlling the media”. Weingarten, a journalist, has helped spread the conspiracy theory that Muslims are immigrating to the US with the goal of imposing an Islamic State agenda.

Bishop’s support for a Jan. 6 rioter

Steve Baker, a reporter for Blaze News charged with participating in the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol, has close ties to Bishop. Baker’s arrest was reportedly followed by support from Bishop. Moreover, Bishop was one of the congressmen who voted against certifying the election results in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol.

Democratic contender, Jeff Jackson, has criticized Bishop’s actions post the 2020 election, arguing they make him unfit to serve as North Carolina’s attorney general. Jackson warns that Bishop’s extremist political views would pose a significant threat to the state.