CHANCE BRANNON: MARINE VET PLEADS GUILTY PLANNED PARENTHOOD ATTACK


By bblouin
The outside of the planned parenthood clinic Chance Brannon targeted.

Marine Veteran Chance Brannon is now pleading guilty to attacking a Planned Parenthood in March 2022. Using a firebomb, Chance Brannon was an active-duty Marine at the time of the attack. As disturbing as this is, more and more details are coming out that also point to the involvement of others, including co-defendant Tibut Ergul. Furthermore, Tibet Ergul and Chance Brannon’s choice to make such an extreme political statement wasn’t the only attack of its kind planned. Suggested read: Russia Is Attacking Ukrainian Cities With Suicide Drones

Chance Brannon of San Jan Capistrano Pleads Guilty to Firebombing Planned Parenthood

On March 13, 2022, Chance Brannon and Ergul threw a Molotov into an Orange County Planned Parenthood. Thankfully, the firebomb didn’t harm anyone, but the incident raised concerns about additional attacks on clinics and elsewhere. Fast forward to November 30, 2023, and Chance Brannon USMC is now entering a plea of guilty as he navigates four different charges. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the former Camp Pendleton Marine is facing the following charges:

  • Conspiracy
  • Malicious destruction of property by fire and explosion
  • Possession of an unregistered destructive device
  • Intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility, a misdemeanor violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act

According to Brannon, both he and Ergul wanted to scare workers and women who might be seeking abortions. However, disturbing evidence has come forth that the attack was not the only one planned.

Planning Additional Attacks

From the time of the firebombing at the Orange County Planned Parenthood clinic until June 2023, Chance Brannon was a free man. Yet, there has been speculation that during this time he and Ergul chose to plan additional attacks. This would come after the reversal of Roe v. Wade. It would also lead to the involvement of Xavier Batten who began to help the duo plan such attacks despite being from Florida. Following investigations involving local law enforcement, NCIS, and the FBI, Brannon would finally be arrested. Days after Brannon’s arrest was the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Pride Night. This was a potential target for future attacks, along with another attack on a Planned Parenthood facility. An attack on a power grid to start a potential race war was also being discussed. Furthermore, additional far-right extremism, along with intricate plans for necessary gear, was on a thumb drive. Some of the needed gear, including a rifle and two pistols, were found. It’s worth noting that a copy of the video feed from the 2019 attack on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand was also found on the drive. Related read: Tommy Tuberville Finally Ends Blockade On Military Promotions

Chance Brannon Yet Another Part of a Recent Extremist, Military Trend

The Planned Parenthood attack is just one of several incidents involving active-duty or Veterans charged with involvement due to far-right extremism. Army Pvt. Ethan P. Melzer was a Satanic Neo-Nazi planning an ambush overseas, there are military ties to power grid attacks, and other attempts to start a civil war. Overall, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) continues to struggle to keep extremists out of the military for multiple reasons:

  • For starters, it’s almost impossible to completely stop lone wolf activity.
  • Mental health and its effect on such behavior continues to be studied.
  • Finally, the military is a group of able-bodied personnel with extensive training who know how to use weapons. Aka, an ideal recruiting source for any extremist group.

Having a strong opinion, even a political one, can be a positive thing; however, there are still lines you never cross. Openly participating in and planning terrorism is never acceptable regardless of how righteous you feel your cause may be. Chance Brannon had a chance to make a difference for our nation and threw it away. Now, he is facing 5 to 20 years in prison. His sentencing is taking place on April 15, 2024. As for Ergul and Batten, both have entered a not-guilty plea. The trial is on March 19, 2024, and as of this writing, they are assumed innocent until proven guilty.

Photo credit: Fibonacci Blue (Wikimedia Commons)

Read next: Osprey Aircraft Crashes In Japan: Missing Soldiers Identified


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