UPDATE: Idaho GOP chairman responds to claims of ‘secret society’ within party
Two members of Idaho’s Republican Party central committee claim a secret society has been formed to get them voted out of their leadership positions.
Bryan Smith and Doyle Beck filed a petition in district court to force state GOP Chairman Steve Yates, former Idaho lawmaker Doug Hancey, Marsha Bjorn, Richard Larsen, Stephanie Mickelsen and Ann Rydalch to give deposition regarding what they call a secret society.
Smith is currently a regional GOP chairman and Beck holds the position of the Bonneville County GOP committee chairman.
The petition states that they cannot file a lawsuit because they do not know enough information the group.
It claims the “Idaho Prosperity Project” involved a “clandestine core group” of individuals whose goal is to “reset leadership” for Bonneville County and Region 7 in the Idaho Republican Party.
The petition says the group will “shepherd” through all critical aspects to replace the positions held by Smith and Beck.
The petition claims the group laid out a yearlong strategy.
Court documents show that the strategy involves recruitment and training of walkers.
The plan states the job of those walkers is to identify voters that support their endorsed candidates.
The plan suggests walkers would be recruited from Brigham Young University-Idaho.
It says they would go door-to-door multiple times a week for four months before the May primary election.
According to court documents the group estimates over $100,000 for it’s operation.
It also says that a group consultant is projected to be paid $90,000 for the year.
The petition claims the two leaders may have a claim for breach of duty especially if one of the individuals is profiting financially to reset leadership while at the same time owing duties to Smith and Beck.
“This odd petition filed by Smith and Beck with Bonneville County Courts is just the latest of a long string of pointless, progressive, even authoritarian measures attempted by a dwindling anti-conservative minority seeking to thwart the will of a majority of conservatives within the Republican party. But has gone even further into conspiracy theory territory,” GOP chairman Steve Yates told Local News 8/KIDK Eyewitness News late Thursday night.
Smith and Beck said they don’t know who is in the group.
That’s why the men petitioned to depose GOP Chairman Yates and the six others.
“Most in our party are focused on identifying voters, turning them out to vote, advocating our platform, defending the constitution, and electing Republican candidates. It is unfortunate that there remains a couple among us that would rather spend time and energy pursuing personal agendas by spreading conspiracy theory sounding rumors and engaging in lawfare in an attempt to silence or damage supposed political critics,” Yates said.
Smith and Beck say the depositions could shed light on who wrote the plan and who is involved in what they’re calling a secret society.
“The irony of this petition is that it appears to be founded on the concept of using government authority to interrogate myself and others on what political associations and activities we may or may not be conducting. This type of government intrusion into personal rights is fundamentally contrary to everything conservative Republicans stand for. Smith and Beck’s true colors are now exposed in that they only give lip service to libertarian and conservative values when it suits their personal agendas; the truth is they are no better than the liberals who use the power of government to take what they do not deserve at the expense of those who work hard for it. I cannot speak for the other named individuals but I will personally take a stand against this type of unconstitutional infringement, not only for myself but for all Americans,” said Yates.
Court documents show judges Alan Stephens, Bruce Pickett and Dane Watkins removed themselves from the case.
Local News 8/KIDK spoke with Beck. He referred us to Smith. As of Thursday night, Smith has not responded.
“Many in our party have volunteered a great deal of time, treasure, and talent to build up the Idaho Republican Party, these two’s efforts to undermine this work is just wrong,” said Yates.
You can find the petition and other court documents here.
