Jan. 6 Rioter Candidate Hires Fringe Publisher to Boost Far-Right Cred
During his insurgent campaign for a U.S. House seat, Derrick Evans has left no question that he’s a far-right firebrand. But since his primary opponent is a tried-and-true conservative incumbent in deep-red West Virginia, he’s sought some extra ammunition—and found it in one of the country’s most notorious right-wing political consultants and publishers.
That publisher—Noel Fritsch, of National File—happens to have a dismal election record. But Evans is getting more than his money’s worth in the bargain, as National File has released a torrent of online attacks against his MAGAfied rival, seemingly free of charge.
Evans certainly isn’t wanting for his own MAGA bona fides. He stormed the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, a decision that prompted his resignation from the West Virginia legislature days later and ultimately led to a three-month prison stint in 2022. And although Evans pleaded guilty, his campaign rhetoric two years later has doubled down on the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. His campaign has also scored support from the chairman of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), along with a smattering of Trumpworld royalty, including Roger Stone. And lest voters think he’s a single-issue candidate, Evans has made a name for himself as a local anti-abortion protester, harassing women at clinics and live-streaming the confrontations.