Brandon Russell, a cofounder of the radical group Atomwaffen Division and an alleged member of the Terrorgram Collective, is on trial for his role in a plot to disable Baltimore’s power grid, aiming to incite a race war. At just 29 years old, Russell has become a significant figure in the American neofascist movement, which has been active over the last decade.
He was arrested in February 2023 alongside his girlfriend, Sarah Clendaniel, on charges of conspiring to destroy an energy facility. If convicted, he faces a potential 20-year prison sentence, fueled by a previous conviction for illegal explosives. The Atomwaffen Division, known for its violent extremism—including five homicides—was dismantled by the FBI in 2020. Russell’s case not only highlights the ongoing battle against far-right extremism under the Biden administration but also poses questions about future efforts under possible shifts in government.
Russell is connected to the Terrorgram Collective, a network that promotes violence and chaos through neo-Nazi propaganda on the messaging platform Telegram. This group has been classified as a "tier one" threat by the U.S. Department of Justice and released manuals encouraging acts of domestic terrorism. The collective’s activities encompass promoting ideologies that have directly influenced multiple violent acts, including a mass shooting in Slovakia and various attacks on infrastructure.
Recent efforts by the State Department to classify the Terrorgram Collective as a Foreign Terrorist Organization underscore the severity of the threat they pose, contrasting with a anticipated shift in governmental focus toward far-right violence under a possible Trump presidency.
In pretrial hearings, the prosecution has introduced evidence of Russell’s extensive neo-Nazi indoctrination and activities. Notably, an FBI investigation unveiled that he owned a necklace featuring swastika motifs associated with the Terrorgram, solidifying his ties to the group.
The nature of the trial also reflects significant precautions taken by the U.S. judicial system due to fears of intimidation or retaliation from Russell’s affiliates against witnesses. Clendaniel has already pled guilty and received an 18-year sentence, but her potential testimony against Russell remains uncertain.
This case embodies the complexities of confronting transnational far-right extremism, revealing collaboration between U.S. law enforcement and international intelligence, particularly since the Terrorgram Collective has connections beyond American borders. Surveillance efforts have tracked Russell’s activities, reflecting the seriousness with which these threats are regarded by international agencies.
Russell’s arrest, prior convictions for explosives, and his ongoing trial mark a crucial chapter in an ongoing struggle against violent extremist movements operating within and outside the United States.
