A U.S. Army soldier, 20-year-old Kylie A. Nix, stationed at Fort Liberty (formerly known as Fort Bragg) in North Carolina, has been arrested following the discovery of his involvement with a white supremacist group known as the Patriot Front. Nix’s arrest has caused a ripple effect, extending to Middle Tennessee and connecting with the mayoral campaign in Franklin from the previous fall.
Nix was identified by hate group researchers who uncovered his hidden double life. While serving as a soldier, Nix was also actively involved with the Patriot Front, a known neo-Nazi organization. The Patriot Front recently made headlines with a march through downtown Nashville, raising concerns about their increasing visibility and activities.
Connection to Franklin Mayoral Campaign and Social Media Activity
The investigation into Nix began when it was revealed that he provided support to neo-Nazis who attended a candidate forum alongside then-mayoral candidate Gabriel Hansen in Franklin. Nix’s support was not limited to physical presence but extended to digital means.
He was found to be operating a Telegram channel called Appalachian Archives, which was later rebranded as American Archives. This channel was filled with neo-Nazi content and was used to target individuals perceived as enemies of Gabriel Hansen’s campaign.
Nix’s activities included doxxing, where sensitive personal information about journalists and activists was shared publicly. Among those targeted were individuals who had openly criticized hate groups and those covering Hansen’s campaign critically.
For instance, Appalachian Archives posted a photo of a Franklin attorney’s home who had spoken out against these hate groups. Additionally, the channel disseminated information about the operator of the progressive news site Tennessee Holler and photos from a neo-Nazi protest outside a journalist’s home who had covered the Hansen campaign.
Threats Against Investigative Reporter and FBI Involvement
One of the most alarming aspects of Nix’s activities was his involvement in threatening Phil Williams, a chief investigative reporter. The threats included demands that Williams air a video interview conducted by a neo-Nazi member associated with Hansen’s campaign. The message was ominous, ending with a chilling warning: “This is our only warning. Always watching, always listening, always near.” Williams, who has extensive experience dealing with neo-Nazis, admitted that the level of threat was shocking even to him.
The investigation into Nix led to the involvement of the FBI. The federal authorities arrested him on charges of unlawful firearms trafficking, including selling two stolen weapons, and lying about his ties to the Patriot Front on his background check when enlisting in the U.S. Army. This arrest raises significant questions about what Nix intended to do with the weapons and who else might have been involved.
U.S. Army’s Response and Broader Implications
Following Nix’s arrest, the U.S. Army took swift action, discharging him from service. The severity of his activities, coupled with his role in the military, has sparked concerns about the infiltration of extremist ideologies within the armed forces. The discovery that Nix was providing “how-to” guides for waging war against the United States while serving in the military is particularly troubling.
The case of Kylie A. Nix highlights the persistent and dangerous threat posed by extremist groups like the Patriot Front. His arrest serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilant monitoring and intervention to prevent individuals with extremist views from exploiting their positions of authority or influence.
The legal proceedings that will follow are expected to shed more light on Nix’s activities and the broader network of individuals involved. The Southern Poverty Law Center, along with other researchers, continues to play a crucial role in uncovering these threats and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.
