Defense contractor Northrop Grumman said Thursday it’s “taking immediate action” after it become aware that an employee who holds a security clearance allegedly took part in violent white supremacist rallies across the country.
ProPublica published a report earlier Thursday saying it confirmed Michael Miselis, a systems engineer for Northrop Grumman, had taken part in the Unite the Right rally last August in Charlottesville, Va. Video allegedly showed him pushing an African-American protester to the ground and punching him. In a different video, shot as protests turned violent outside a Trump rally in Berkeley, Calif., the 29-year-old allegedly wrestled one protester to the ground and punched others, clad in goggles and with his hands taped like a boxer.
Northrop Grumman said in a statement that it was “recently made aware” of Miselis’ alleged actions and that the actions described by ProPublica conflict with the company’s values.
“We do not tolerate hatred or illegal conduct and we condemn racist activities in any shape or form,” the statement read. “We are taking immediate action to look into the very serious issues raised by these reports.”
ProPublica said it identified Miselis as a member of the white supremacist group, Rise Above the Movement, using the video footage and social media posts. A number of California law enforcement officials also said he was a member of RAM, the news outlet reported.
Miselis told ProPublica he “didn’t know anything” about the violence in Charlottesville.
“I think you got the wrong guy,” he told reporters who approached him outside his home.
He did not respond to other requests for comment from the publication.
Current and former employees said Northrop Grumman was aware of Miselis’ actions in Charlottesville and his involvement with the white supremacist group after he told his superiors about his contact with reporters, which is required by anyone who holds a high-level security clearance.
