Killian Mackeithan Ryan also had five Instagram accounts that were in contact with others “related to racially motivated extremism,” according to court records.
Ryan’s alleged social media activity is documented in a lawsuit filed late last month in U.S. District Court in North Carolina that accuses him of providing false information on a security clearance form to serve at Fort Bragg.
The case was first reported by Rolling Stone and comes at a time when the US military is trying to purge its ranks of extremists and white supremacists. For example, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asked commanders last year to establish a one-day stand to counter extremism. The military also updated its social media policy to make liking and reposting certain content potentially lead to disciplinary action. And just this week, the names of more than 100 current military members appeared on leaked membership lists of a far-right extremist group accused of playing a key role in last year’s U.S. Capitol uprising. Ryan is accused of claiming on his security clearance form that he had not been in contact with his biological father for more than 10 years, according to court records. He also said his biological father is not listed on his birth certificate.
Ryan’s biological father is a convicted felon with a criminal record in Washington state and California for drug violations and car theft, according to court records.
Ryan was investigated by a police officer in Fayetteville, North Carolina, who works as part of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Ryan served in the regular Army at Fort Bragg until his arrest by the FBI on Aug. 26 and was “separated for serious misconduct,” U.S. military officials said in a statement.
The statement did not specify what the misconduct was. Ryan was also charged with driving under the influence at Fort Bragg in July, according to court documents.
The military said the FBI notified it earlier this year that Ryan was under investigation.
“The US military does not tolerate racism, extremism or hatred in our ranks,” he said in a statement.
Ryan served as a fire support specialist, which is someone who gathers intelligence on enemy targets for artillery forces. The military said it had not deployed.
For one of his Instagram accounts, Ryan used an email containing the name “naziace1488,” according to court records.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, 1488 is a combination of number symbols popular among white supremacists.
The first is the number 14, which is short for a 14-word slogan about “the future for white children,” the ADL said. The second is 88, which stands for “Heil Hitler” because H is the 8th letter of the alphabet, the ADL said.
Ryan was in contact with his biological father through Instagram, according to court records. His father also posted a photo of the two at Ryan’s high school graduation in 2019. Legal experts say Ryan could have jeopardized his security clearance if he listed recent contact with his biological father.
“They’re looking at the possibility of exposure in any way because of your personal situation,” said Colby Vokey, a military criminal defense attorney.
Ryan would need clearance to work with intelligence on enemy positions, as well as intelligence on U.S. weapons systems, Vokey added.
Phillip Stackhouse, another military criminal defense attorney, said prosecuting someone for providing false information on a security clearance form is not routine in his experience. Many people often simply revoke their license without being charged.
“Maybe they’ll make an example of him,” Stackhouse said of Ryan. “Maybe it’s to put pressure on him to cooperate in some other investigation.”
Ryan’s federal public defender, James E. Todd, Jr., did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.