California county recalls top official, giving militia-aligned group a path to government

Supervisor Leonard Moty has been ousted after two years of threats and increasing hostility over pandemic health restrictions

Voters in far northern California have solidified the ouster of a Republican county official, giving control of the Shasta county board of supervisors to a group supported by local militia members.

Leonard Moty, a retired police chief and Republican with decades of public service, lost his seat in a recall election in one of California's most conservative counties. The Tuesday recall came as tensions reached a high in the county after two years of threats and increasing hostility toward moderate Republican officials over pandemic health restrictions.