A Book Talk with Jessica Pishko

The figure of the American sheriff has loomed large in popular imagination, though given the outsize jurisdiction sheriffs have over people’s lives, the office of sheriffs remains a gravely under-examined institution. In recent years, there’s been a revival of “constitutional sheriffs,” who assert that their authority supersedes that of legislatures, courts, and even the president. Moreover, they are embraced by far-right militia groups and white nationalists.

How did a group of law enforcement officers decide they were “above the law?” What are the stakes for local and national politics and for America as a democracy?

Independent journalist and lawyer Jessica Pishko takes us to the roots of why sheriffs have become a flashpoint in our current political landscape and for the far-right.

This event was moderated by Program on Extremism Research Fellow Luke Baumgartner.

To view the event recording, click here.