Pentagon nominee and Arizona GOP lawmakers spoke at an alien conspiracy conference
Two Arizona lawmakers and President Donald Trump's nominee for a top Pentagon job spoke at a conspiracy theory convention over the weekend, appearing alongside a man who claims God is telling him to sell cryptocurrency.
Arizona lawmakers Sen. Mark Finchem, R-Prescott, and Rep. Leo Biasiucci, R-Lake Havasu, each spoke on multiple panels at the Quantum Summit 2 event, a convention for a fringe conspiracy theory that claims extraterrestrials are helping shape national and global policy.
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During one presentation, Finchem was joined by retired Gen. Anthony Tata, Trump's nominee for under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness at the Pentagon.
Tata had previously been nominated by Trump during his first presidency, but his past inflammatory remarks referring to President Barack Obama as a 'terrorist' and a series of Islamaphobic tweets scuttled his appointment.
Tata has appeared at a Quantum Summit event before, speaking at the inaugural event in 2024; photographs of his participation were posted on the event website and in other promotional materials. The White House did not respond to a request for comment or answer questions if they were aware of Tata's planned attendance.
In a program for the event posted to BlueSky by anonymous independent extremist researcher Arizona Right Watch, Tata was listed as speaking on a panel with Finchem and two individuals who frequently post videos with QAnon related themes. Both Biasucci and Finchem also held their own presentations separately, with Biasucci speaking about his legislation and Finchem about his work with a former Tennessee cop in which Finchem has pursued spurious fraud claims.
'We are a very small team,' Finchem said, alluding to a nonprofit he created that has spread debunked election fraud claims and whose 'head researcher,' a former Tennessee cop named Shawn Taylor, was also present at the event. Finchem suggested that those in attendance should donate to help fund his nonprofit's work.
Quantum Summit 2 was put on in Cape Canaveral, Florida, by believers in the NESARA/GESARA conspiracy theory. In its most basic form, NESARA/GESARA is a conspiracy theory that revolves around a proposed piece of economic reforms from the 1990s called the National Economic Security and Recovery Act that conspiracy theorists believe was enacted in secret by President Bill Clinton but was covered up by the U.S. Supreme Court via a gag order and suppressed by the 9/11 attacks, which were orchestrated by President George W. Bush.
GESARA refers to a supposed global version of the economic reforms that adherents similarly believe were instituted and then hidden.
In the early 2000s, the conspiracy theory gained popularity in the early internet days as Shaini Goodwin, calling herself the 'Dove of Oneness,' made bold predictions about NESARA and world events with dubious claims of 'insider knowledge.'
Goodwin is a 'graduate' of a New-Age school whose leader often goes on homophobic and antisemitic rants and has teamed up with QAnon. It is also tied to the NXIVM cult that was investigated for sex crimes and much more.
The conspiracy theory has regained traction in recent years, as QAnon adherents have flocked to it due to its many similarities.
NESARA/GESARA has often also been called the 'grandfather' of the QAnon conspiracy movement. Goodwin initially promoted it as part of a larger scam that defrauded investors of millions of dollars, with promises of the erasure of all debts and the eventual abolishment of the Internal Revenue Services.
Believers often claim that extraterrestrials have been in communication with them or leaders within the movement and are working to promote the NESARA/GESARA agenda. A promotional video for the Cape Canaveral event that Finchem and Biasiucci spoke at mentions discussions around encouraging the U.S. Space Force to work with the 'Galactic Federation.' The idea of a Galactic Federation is often discussed in the context of UFO religions and New Age movements.
The event was the brainchild of a man named Mel Carmine, who believes that Trump, using the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is ushering in the NESARA/GESARA plan.
Carmine also has violent beliefs as to what the government should be doing to Trump's perceived enemies.
'Everything you buy, everything you touch, has a tax,' Carmine said in a Feb. 11 interview with Finchem and Biasucci. 'People are tired of the thievery…I believe I'm speaking for the American people. I'm pissed off and I know the American people are pissed off. I know I wanna see guillotines and I'm very sure the American people want to see the guillotines and people hanging from ropes. Are we going to see these people perp walked? Are we going to see these people taken care of?'
Neither Arizona lawmaker responded to the statement, and instead spoke about legislation they're running about taxes in Arizona.
In that same interview, Finchem claimed that Attorney General Kris Mayes had sent a 'threatening' letter to lawmakers regarding cryptocurrency. A spokesperson for Mayes said they were unaware of any letter and noted they were working with Republican lawmaker Rep. Jeff Weninger, R-Chandler, on a cryptocurrency bill.
Neither Biasucci nor Finchem responded to repeated requests for comment.
In an opening video for the event, Carmine also claimed that God showed him the logo of a cryptocurrency in the sky that he is now pushing as the currency that will be backed by NESARA/GESARA. That cryptocurrency was featured prominently throughout the event and is pushed heavily on Carmine's social media.
The event included a litany of speakers with conspiratorial ties and beliefs ranging from UFOs to a man who claimed that he was the original author of The Matrix movie, a claim that was rejected in court.
On Telegram during the conference, Carmine interviewed a person who claimed the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which left 20 children and 6 adults dead, was faked by the government and claimed 'anti-gravity tech' and the scam technology known as 'med beds' would be forthcoming.
Biasiucci and Finchem are not strangers to conspiracy conventions. In 2021, both spoke at a QAnon convention full of conspiracy theories and antisemitic propaganda.
Finchem has also fundraised with QAnon adherents and had major support from the QAnon community during his failed bid for statewide office in 2022. One of those major supporters, Juan O. Savin, was also a speaker at Quantum Summit 2.
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