Matt Shea

Shea graduated from high school in Bellingham, Washington. He received a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University in 1996 and a J.D. degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2006.{{cite news |url=http://www.spokesman.com/elections/2018/washington-general-election-nov-6/candidates/matt-shea/ |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Election Center: Matt Shea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103091853/http://www.spokesman.com/elections/2018/washington-general-election-nov-6/candidates/matt-shea/ |archive-date=November 3, 2018 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |place=Spokane, WA}} Shea worked for seven years at M. Casey Law in Spokane as an attorney before opening a solo practice in 2020 specializing in nonprofit, civil rights and personal injury law.{{cite news |last1=Sokol |first1=Chad |title=A look at Rep. Matt Shea's legal career: Recently laid off, he's sued bad drivers and a state university |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/feb/09/a-look-at-rep-matt-sheas-legal-career-recently-lai/ |access-date=24 April 2020 |publisher=Spokesman Review |date=18 February 2020}}

Shea was in the Army ROTC program at Gonzaga University. In 1996, he entered the U.S. Army as a second Lieutenant. He was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and Kuwait, and left the Washington Army National Guard in 2006 with the rank of Captain.

Shea was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 2008, representing the 4th Legislative District, part of Spokane County.{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=April 25, 2009 |title=2009 Cappys honor legislators and unforgettable moments |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/2009-cappys-honor-legislators-and-unforgettable-moments/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514064806/https://www.heraldnet.com/news/2009-cappys-honor-legislators-and-unforgettable-moments/ |archive-date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=May 13, 2018 |work=HeraldNet.com |language=en-US}} He was re-elected four times, in 2012,{{Cite web |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20161108/Legislative-District-4-State-Representative-Pos-1_ByCounty.html |title=November 8, 2016 General Election Results - Legislative District 4 - State Representative Pos. 1 County Breakdown |website=results.vote.wa.gov |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224040721/http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20161108/Legislative-District-4-State-Representative-Pos-1_ByCounty.html |archive-date=December 24, 2016 |access-date=January 17, 2017}} 2014,{{Cite web |url=http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20141104/spokane/ |title=Spokane County November 4, 2014 General Election |website=results.vote.wa.gov |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724124135/http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20141104/spokane/ |archive-date=July 24, 2017 |access-date=January 17, 2017}} 2016,{{Cite web |url=http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/LegislativeDistrict04.html |title=Legislative District 04 |website=results.vote.wa.gov |access-date=January 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701185628/http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/LegislativeDistrict04.html |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |url-status=live}} and 2018.

Shea endorsed Jim Walsh in his legislative district 19 race in 2016. Walsh was elected and went on to become the chair of the Washington GOP.

Shea hosts Patriot Radio, a twice-weekly show broadcast on the American Christian Network.{{cite web |url=http://www.acn.cc/ |title=American Christian Network |website=www.acn.cc |access-date=January 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101182003/http://www.acn.cc/ |archive-date=January 1, 2017 |url-status=live}}

Shea was a co-founder and director of the Washington Family Foundation, a socially conservative advocacy group.{{cite news |first=John |last=Craig |date=July 31, 2008 |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/jul/31/divorced-candidate-promotes-family-values/ |title=Divorced candidate promotes family values |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514065330/http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/jul/31/divorced-candidate-promotes-family-values/ |archive-date=May 14, 2018 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |place=Spokane, WA}} He was also a board member of the anti-same-sex marriage group Protect Marriage Washington, and during his first term in office introduced legislation seeking to block the recognition of same-sex marriage in Washington.{{cite news |first=Dominic |last=Holden |url=https://www.thestranger.com/seattle/meet-the-four-men-in-washington-state-most-obsessed-with-stopping-gay-marriage/Content?oid=1635015 |title=Know thy enemy: Meet the four men most obsessed with stopping gay marriage in Washington State |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924125501/https://www.thestranger.com/seattle/meet-the-four-men-in-washington-state-most-obsessed-with-stopping-gay-marriage/Content?oid=1635015 |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |newspaper=The Stranger |date=June 4, 2009}}

Shea is a founding member and current chairman of the Coalition of Western States (COWS).{{cite web |title=Coalition of Western States |url=http://cowstates.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225211820/http://cowstates.com/ |archive-date=February 25, 2017 |access-date=January 17, 2017 |website=cowstates.com |publisher=Coalition of Western States |language=en-US}} In an interview, Shea stated that COWS's goals are to "facilitate the transfer of public lands back to the state level, and to have the states and counties manage the land".{{cite web |url=https://radiofreeredoubt.com/2014/04/14/coalition-of-western-states-forms-to-protect-against-federal-overreach/ |title=Coalition Of western states forms to protect against federal overreach |publisher=Radio Free Redoubt |website=radiofreeredoubt.com |access-date=January 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003063850/https://radiofreeredoubt.com/2014/04/14/coalition-of-western-states-forms-to-protect-against-federal-overreach/ |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |url-status=live}} During the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Shea and other COWS members traveled to Burns, Oregon, allegedly attempting to negotiate on behalf of the militants occupying the reserve.{{cite web |url=http://www.opb.org/news/series/burns-oregon-standoff-bundy-militia-news-updates/republican-gop-politicians-coalition-western-states/ |title=Republican politicians planned and participated in key aspects of refuge occupation |last=Sepulvado |first=John |website=www.opb.org |access-date=January 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217185434/http://www.opb.org/news/series/burns-oregon-standoff-bundy-militia-news-updates/republican-gop-politicians-coalition-western-states/ |archive-date=February 17, 2017 |url-status=live}} In 2015, Shea supported Idaho Representative Heather Scott, a fellow COWS member, in a protest near the home of John Arnold. Arnold had received a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs stating the VA had found him mentally incompetent, and protesters worried that his right to own firearms may have been impacted by the VA's findings.{{cite news |url=http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/news/local/article_1e1d163e-3ccf-11e5-b198-17ae2e5e310e.html |title=Vet fights for gun rights |last=Ivie |first=Nick |date=August 7, 2015 |newspaper=Bonner County Daily Bee |access-date=January 17, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118052553/http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/news/local/article_1e1d163e-3ccf-11e5-b198-17ae2e5e310e.html |archive-date=January 18, 2017}}

Shea organized the Spokane chapter of ACT! for America, an anti-Muslim organization designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.{{cite web |url=http://mynorthwest.com/1168964/matt-shea-biblical-war-manifesto/ |title=Washington state lawmaker under fire for biblical war 'manifesto' |date=November 2, 2018 |publisher=KIRO-FM |access-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103131153/http://mynorthwest.com/1168964/matt-shea-biblical-war-manifesto/ |archive-date=November 3, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |first=Leah |last=Sottile |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/matt-shea-washington-state-liberty-744850/ |title=Something's brewing in the deep red west |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103092156/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/matt-shea-washington-state-liberty-744850/ |archive-date=November 3, 2018 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 23, 2018}}

As a state legislator, Shea introduced House Memorials in 2015 and 2017 to create a new State of Liberty from Eastern Washington.{{cite news |title=Rep. Matt Shea wants to split Washington State in two |first=Katie |last=Herzog |date=November 9, 2018 |newspaper=The Stranger |url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/11/09/35299808/rep-matt-shea-wants-to-split-washington-state-in-two|access-date=January 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918150902/https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/11/09/35299808/rep-matt-shea-wants-to-split-washington-state-in-two |archive-date=September 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}

Shea did not file for re-election in 2020.{{cite web | title=Lawmaker called 'domestic terrorist' won't seek reelection | url=https://apnews.com/d74b618f6ad7c412091f18abd93d5f07 | date=May 16, 2020 | work=Associated Press | access-date=May 16, 2020}} He would have faced former State Representative Leonard Christian in the 2020 Republican primary.{{cite news |last=Sokol |first=Chad |date=2019-12-20 |title=Former state rep. Leonard Christian announces run |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/dec/20/former-state-rep-leonard-christian-announces-run-a/ |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |place=Spokane, WA}} Nurse practitioner Lori Feagan, a Democrat, also planned to run against Shea in the general election.{{cite news |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/politics/nurse-practitioner-launches-campaign-challenging-rep-matt-shea/293-6e541202-722f-4362-9ee6-0f6a2c591cb1 |title=Nurse practitioner launches campaign challenging rep. Matt Shea |date=December 16, 2019 |first=Megan |last=Carroll |place=Spokane, WA |publisher=KREM-TV}}

In June 2020, Shea was announced as the next pastor of Covenant Christian Church in Spokane, replacing current pastor Ken Peters. Peters, who will be relocating to Knoxville, Tennessee to start a new church, described the change as "God moving generals around".{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Kip |date=May 31, 2020 |title=Rep. Matt Shea to take over as campus pastor at Covenant Christian Church after failing to file for re-election |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/may/31/rep-matt-shea-to-take-over-as-campus-pastor-at-cov/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=www.spokesman.com}}

In May 2021, Shea resigned from Covenant Christian Church and started his own congregation called On Fire Ministries & Kingdom Christian Academy where he is listed as Senior Pastor. When asked, Peters said "We let Matt go. We felt he was better on his own. It wasn't a good fit, long-term."{{Cite web |last=Vestal |first=Shawn |date=May 27, 2021 |title=Shawn Vestal: Matt Shea out at church over schism with fellow 'general' Ken Peters, but abortion protests go on {{!}} The Spokesman-Review |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/may/27/shawn-vestal-matt-shea-out-at-tcapp-over-schism-wi/ |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=www.spokesman.com}}{{Cite web |title=Matt Shea - Senior Pastor at On Fire Ministries & Kingdom Christian Academy |url=https://pastormattshea.com/ |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=pastormattshea.com |language=en-US}}

In 2011, as part of the process to replace Washington State Senator Bob McCaslin, background information about Shea included allegations of angry outbursts at Shea's legislative office and that he was disarmed by a commander while he served in Iraq due to anger management issues.{{Cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/feb/05/mccaslin-blasts-shea-as-possible-successor-for/|title=McCaslin blasts Shea as possible successor for state Senate seat|last=Craig|first=John|date=February 5, 2011|newspaper=Spokesman.com|access-date=January 17, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415042415/http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/feb/05/mccaslin-blasts-shea-as-possible-successor-for/|archive-date=April 15, 2017}} Despite Shea being endorsed by the Executive Board of Spokane County's Republican Party,{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2011/jan/13/mccaslin-replacement-slowed-call-flash-mob/|title=McCaslin replacement slowed by call for 'flash mob'|last=Camden|first=Jim|date=January 13, 2011|website=The Spokesman-Review|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222001100/https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2011/jan/13/mccaslin-replacement-slowed-call-flash-mob/|archive-date=December 22, 2019|access-date=2019-12-22}} the county commissioners selected businessman Jeff Baxter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/feb/12/spokane-county-commissioners-pick-baxter-for/|title=Spokane County commissioners pick Baxter for state Senate|last=Craig|first=John|date=February 12, 2011|website=The Spokesman-Review|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222000917/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/feb/12/spokane-county-commissioners-pick-baxter-for/|archive-date=December 22, 2019|access-date=2019-12-22}}

Differences in views between Shea and Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, also a Republican, resulted in Shea contending that "the Southern Poverty Law Center—and the sheriff (Knezovich) that backs them—is the most dangerous organization in this country".{{Cite web|url=http://www.inlander.com/spokane/manufacturing-fear/Content?oid=2534837|title=Manufacturing Fear|last=Walters|first=Daniel|date=August 12, 2015|website=Inlander|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118051810/http://www.inlander.com/spokane/manufacturing-fear/Content?oid=2534837|archive-date=January 18, 2017|access-date=January 17, 2017}}

Shea has often clashed with journalists, referring to reporters as "dirty, godless, hateful people" at an August 2018 gun-rights rally.{{Cite news|author=Joseph O'Sullivan|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/washington-lawmaker-on-public-records-task-force-calls-journalists-those-dirty-godless-hateful-people/|title=Washington lawmaker on public-records task force calls journalists 'those dirty, godless, hateful people'|date=August 20, 2018|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=August 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821121510/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/washington-lawmaker-on-public-records-task-force-calls-journalists-those-dirty-godless-hateful-people/|archive-date=August 21, 2018|url-status=live}} He refers to local newspapers as the "Socialist-Review" (Spokesman-Review) and the "Inslander" (Inlander), the latter referring to Jay Inslee.{{cite news |title=After years of controversy, Rep. Matt Shea no longer part of House Republican leadership |url=https://www.inlander.com/spokane/rep-matt-shea-didnt-make-the-cut-for-washington-house-republican-leadership-this-year/Content?oid=15147570 |access-date=April 20, 2019 |work=Inlander |date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130123613/https://www.inlander.com/spokane/rep-matt-shea-didnt-make-the-cut-for-washington-house-republican-leadership-this-year/Content?oid=15147570 |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=live }} Shea's contentious history with the press attracted attention because he was, as of August 2018, one of eight state legislators on a Washington Legislature task force dealing with state public records laws and exemptions to them.

In late October 2018, Shea acknowledged that he had distributed a document described as a "four-page manifesto" titled Biblical Basis for War that listed strategies that a "Holy Army" could employ. The document, consisting of 14 sections divided into bullet points, had a section on "rules of war" that stated "make an offer of peace before declaring war", which within stated that the enemy must "surrender on terms" of no abortions, no same-sex marriage, no communism and "must obey Biblical law", then continued: "If they do not yield — kill all males". Shea acknowledged the document and claimed that it was a summary of "biblical sermons on war."{{cite web |last1=Bowden |first1=John |title=FBI investigating Washington state rep. for manifesto urging 'all males' will be killed |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/414450-fbi-investigating-washington-state-rep-for-manifesto-urging-all-males |work=The Hill |access-date=April 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423065949/https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/414450-fbi-investigating-washington-state-rep-for-manifesto-urging-all-males |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |url-status=live }}

The Spokesman-Review reported: "After the document was leaked online Tuesday [10/23/18], the Spokane Valley Republican insisted he was not promoting violence and that the message had been taken out of context. 'First of all, it was a summary of a series of sermons on biblical war in the Old Testament as part of a larger discussion on the history of warfare.' Shea said in a Facebook Live video. 'This document, in and of itself, was not a secret. I've actually talked about portions of this document publicly.'"{{Cite web |title=Rep. Matt Shea takes credit, criticism for document titled 'Biblical Basis for War' {{!}} The Spokesman-Review |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/oct/26/rep-matt-shea-takes-credit-criticism-for-document-/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=www.spokesman.com}}

Sheriff Knezovich alerted the FBI to the manifesto and said that the statements made in the manifesto are consistent with a racist, anti-Semitic, and white supremacist ideology known as Christian Identity, which seeks to establish a "white homeland" in the US northwest.

In April 2019, The Guardian published records from a right-wing chat group of four people that Shea participated in, where Shea used an alias of 'True Warrior' in Latin. Other members in the chat group discussed carrying out surveillance, intimidation, and violent attacks on political enemies, including Antifa activists and "communists." Shea himself volunteered to conduct background checks on residents of Spokane, resulting in Shea naming three individuals. One of the chat group's members forwarded the information to The Guardian, while another confirmed the existence of the chats and acknowledged the discussion on conducting surveillance on "Antifa" people.{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jason |date=April 20, 2019 |title=Republican discussed violent attacks and surveillance with rightwingers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/20/matt-shea-rightwing-messages-chat-records |work=The Guardian |access-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420065556/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/20/matt-shea-rightwing-messages-chat-records |archive-date=April 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} The Guardian published a second set of emails in August that tied Shea to an organization called Team Rugged, which aimed to train young men for "biblical warfare".{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jason |date=August 14, 2019 |title=Revealed: Republican lawmaker aided group training young men for 'biblical warfare' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/13/matt-shea-biblical-war-washington-team-rugged |work=The Guardian |access-date=August 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815171206/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/13/matt-shea-biblical-war-washington-team-rugged |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Sokol |first=Chad |date=August 15, 2019 |title=Rep. Matt Shea endorsed training children to fight in holy war |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/aug/14/rep-matt-shea-endorsed-training-child-soldiers-for/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |access-date=August 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815193653/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/aug/14/rep-matt-shea-endorsed-training-child-soldiers-for/ |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |url-status=live }}

An investigation commissioned by Washington House of Representatives reported, on December 1, 2019, that Shea had planned and participated in domestic terrorism on at least three occasions.{{Cite web |last=Romo |first=Vanessa |date=December 20, 2019 |title=Washington Legislator Matt Shea Accused of 'Domestic Terrorism,' Report Finds |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/20/790192972/washington-legislator-matt-shea-accused-of-domestic-terrorism-report-finds |access-date=December 23, 2019 |publisher=NPR}} This included his participation, organizing, planning, and promotion of the 2014 Bundy standoff in Nevada, the 2015 armed standoff in Priest River, Idaho, and the 2016 armed seizure of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon. Shea led a delegation of right-wing legislators from Oregon, Washington and Idaho that met with law enforcement on January 9, 2016, in Burns, Oregon and were appraised of confidential intended law enforcement strategies for dealing with the refuge occupiers. Shea then disclosed those details to Bundy, according to the report.

House leadership forwarded the report to the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington and the FBI. Sheriff Knezovich stated that he believed there was enough evidence "to charge Shea with domestic terrorism, if not treason."{{cite news |last1=Buck |first1=Colette |title=Sheriff Knezovich: "I believe there's enough evidence to charge Rep. Shea with domestic terrorism' |url=https://www.khq.com/news/sheriff-knezovich-i-believe-there-s-enough-evidence-to-charge/article_f1d01462-22bd-11ea-97a2-af4048c7056e.html |access-date=December 20, 2019 |publisher=KHQ |date=December 19, 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220172446/https://www.khq.com/news/sheriff-knezovich-i-believe-there-s-enough-evidence-to-charge/article_f1d01462-22bd-11ea-97a2-af4048c7056e.html |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} The sheriff also stated that he was worried that arresting Shea would lead to an armed standoff, and that he had contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding this concern.[https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-12-20/matt-shea-republican-domestic-terrorism-white-supremacy From Ruby Ridge to Matt Shea, eastern Washington struggles to shake far-right extremism], Los Angeles Times, December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019. Shea issued a statement to local news station KREM saying he had "been denied any opportunity to review and respond to its results which are still unknown to me."{{cite news |last1=Riordan |first1=Kaitlin |last2=Smay |first2=Ian |last3=Decker |first3=Casey |title='I will not back down': Rep. Matt Shea, accused of 'domestic terrorism,' refuses to resign |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/politics/matt-shea-investigation-says-he-engaged-in-domestic-terrorism/293-82a8700c-b5e0-44bb-a752-a43c682ace16 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |work=KREM 2 News |date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220040638/https://www.krem.com/article/news/politics/matt-shea-investigation-says-he-engaged-in-domestic-terrorism/293-82a8700c-b5e0-44bb-a752-a43c682ace16 |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} That day, he wrote in a Facebook post: "Like we are seeing with our President this is a sham investigation meant to silence those of us who stand up against attempts to disarm and destroy our great country. I will not back down, I will not give in, I will not resign."{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Katie |title=A GOP state legislator helped plan an armed occupation in Oregon, investigators say, calling it 'domestic terrorism' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/12/20/gop-legislator-matt-shea-coordinated-anti-government-land-occupation-oregon/ |access-date=December 20, 2019 |work=The Washington Post |date=December 20, 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220150843/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/12/20/gop-legislator-matt-shea-coordinated-anti-government-land-occupation-oregon/ |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |url-status=live }}

Shea was stripped of committees and suspended from having any role in the House Republican caucus. House Republican leader J.T. Wilcox called on him to resign.{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/washington-state-rep-matt-shea-engaged-in-domestic-terrorism-against-the-u-s-says-state-house-inquiry/|title=Washington Rep. Matt Shea engaged in domestic terrorism against U.S., says state House report|last1=Gutman|last2=O'Sullivan|first1=David|first2=Joseph|date=December 19, 2019|work=Seattle Times|access-date=December 19, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219234002/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/washington-state-rep-matt-shea-engaged-in-domestic-terrorism-against-the-u-s-says-state-house-inquiry/|archive-date=December 19, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Luck |first1=Melissa |title=Rep. Matt Shea removed from caucus, report sent to FBI and U.S. Attorney |url=https://www.kxly.com/news/rep-matt-shea-removed-from-caucus-report-sent-to-fbi-and-us-attorney/1152912144 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |publisher=KXLY |date=December 19, 2019}}

On January 9, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee called on Shea to resign. "The people of Spokane deserve better", Inslee said.{{Cite web|url=https://www.khq.com/news/the-people-of-spokane-deserve-better-gov-jay-inslee-calls/article_658122b2-334d-11ea-bfd3-cb3ffa57afaa.html|title="The people of Spokane deserve better": Gov. Jay Inslee calls on Rep. Matt Shea to resign|website=KHQ Right Now}}

In May 2020, Shea was fined $4,761.34 for damaging historic masonry by intentionally leaving a trail of slick olive oil on the steps of the Capitol. According to a Department of Enterprise Services report, the oil stain was about 100 feet long. The incident occurred on March 6, 2020, which was the same day as a demonstration by the Satanic Temple of Washington, and Shea stated he needed to clean the ground after the Satanic ritual.{{cite web |last1=Gutman |first1=David |last2=O'Sullivan |first2=Joseph |title=Spokane-area Rep. Matt Shea billed nearly $5,000 for damage to state Capitol steps during protest |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/rep-matt-shea-fined-nearly-5000-for-damage-to-capitol-steps-during-march-protest|website=seattletimes.com |publisher=The Seattle Times |access-date=17 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517005916/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/rep-matt-shea-fined-nearly-5000-for-damage-to-capitol-steps-during-march-protest|archive-date=17 May 2020 |date=May 14, 2020 |quote=Tarkus Claypool, a spokesman for the Satanic Temple of Washington, said he didn't notice any conflict with Shea during the demonstration. "We just focused on what we were doing," Claypool said. "It's going to take a lot more than Matt Shea and his bottle of salad dressing to stop us from exercising our First Amendment rights."}} According to the leader of The Satanic Temple Lucien Greaves, "If Mr. Shea is so offended by our First Amendment guarantees that he finds it impossible to accept public religious expression that does not align with his own, then I hope the people of Washington will demand his immediate resignation." Hemant Mehta agrees with Greaves and adds "If he cared about Washington more than himself, he would have resigned a long time ago. It's not too late."{{cite web |last1=Mehta |first1=Hemant|author-link= Hemant Mehta |title=WA Lawmaker Matt Shea Owes $4,700 in Cleanup Costs After Anti-Satanist Protest |url=https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/05/15/wa-lawmaker-matt-shea-owes-4700-in-cleanup-costs-after-anti-satanist-protest/ |website=Friendly Atheist |publisher=Patheos |access-date=17 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517011854/https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/05/15/wa-lawmaker-matt-shea-owes-4700-in-cleanup-costs-after-anti-satanist-protest/ |archive-date=17 May 2020 |date=May 15, 2020 |quote=… this brings to question Mr. Shea's state of mind, his ability to distinguish reality from fantasy, and his competence in acting appropriately in ways that do not threaten the safety of himself or others. But while one might reasonably question whether or not Mr. Shea should at least temporarily be denied access to sharp objects and his own bank account pending further evaluation, there is no question that anybody possessed of Mr. Shea's flagrant antipathy towards the most fundamental principles of the United States Constitution should not be holding the office of one charged with upholding those principles. If Mr. Shea is so offended by our First Amendment guarantees that he finds it impossible to accept public religious expression that does not align with his own, then I hope the people of Washington will demand his immediate resignation. This is America, Mr. Shea. Love it or leave it.}}

At an event in North Idaho less than a month after the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Shea called for his followers to prepare for "total war" against their enemies, claimed the election was stolen from Donald Trump, and engaged in Islamophobic rhetoric, saying that during the Battle of Tours in 732, "The Army of Islam would go into churches and rape all the nuns on the altar until there were no more virgins left and then they'd start in on the boys."{{cite web|url= https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/feb/05/shawn-vestal-matt-shea-the-redoubt-rock-star-keeps/|title=Matt Shea, the Redoubt rock star, keeps riling up his followers for 'total war'}}

In March 2022, Shea was discovered in Poland with a group of 62 Ukrainian refugee children, claiming to be arranging their adoption via an unregistered and unaccredited American adoption agency.[https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/former-wa-rep-matt-shea-accused-of-domestic-terrorism-working-to-secure-adoptions-for-ukrainian-children-in-poland/ Former WA Rep. Matt Shea, accused of domestic terrorism, working to secure adoptions for Ukrainian children in Poland], by David Gutman; in the Seattle Times; published March 16, 2022; retrieved March 16, 2022

In November 2011, Shea "pulled a gun during a confrontation with another motorist" in what police reports described as an incident of road rage. Shea was initially charged with possessing a loaded handgun in a vehicle without a concealed weapons permit; the charge was ultimately resolved under a "stipulated order of continuance," in which "Shea paid a $75 fee and agreed that the information in the police report is correct" and the charge was dismissed after the passage of one year with no criminal violations.{{Cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jul/22/legislator-pulled-gun-during-road-incident/|title=Legislator pulled gun during road incident|last=Camden|first=Jim|date=July 22, 2012|newspaper=Spokesman.com|access-date=January 17, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429134350/http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jul/22/legislator-pulled-gun-during-road-incident/|archive-date=April 29, 2017}}

In September 2023 Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward was denounced by the Spokane City Council for her August 2023 stage appearance with Matt Shea at a religious gathering.

https://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-city-council-denounces-mayor-nadine-woodward-for-appearing-at-event-with-matt-shea/article_0d2c6ca8-5c0b-11ee-b43d-3700f618eac4.html

• 2014 Guardians of Small Business award. Presented by NFIB.{{cite web |url=https://www.nfib.com/content/news/washington/69-lawmakers-win-main-streets-highest-award-65593/ |title=69 Lawmakers Win Main Street's Highest Award |website=nfib.com |date=May 12, 2014 |accessdate=September 20, 2021}}

Shea married Lisa Jenn in 2002.{{cite web |title=Washington, Marriage Index, 1969-2017 |url=https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61233 |website=Ancestry.com |access-date=28 December 2019}} They were divorced in January 2008.{{cite web |title=Washington, Divorce Index, 1969-2017 |url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61251/ |website=Ancestry.com}} She was granted a protective order by a court after filing court documents stating her husband treated her "as a possession" and was physically and emotionally abusive. Her brother-in-law testified in court documents that he saw Matt Shea grabbing her "very hard and violently" and pushing her into a vehicle.

Lisa Shea attested that Matt "insisted she walk on his left side because his sword, if he had one, would be on his right side," and forbade her from writing a church bulletin. She also complained that he had expected her to support him financially during and after his time in law school, but that he would not seek profitable employment even after graduating from law school. Shea denied any physical abuse, called his ex-wife a "product of the foster care system", and said this was her third divorce.

Shea married his second wife, the Ukrainian-born Viktoriya Vinnikova, shortly after the divorce.{{cite web | title=Washington State Lawmaker Espouses Hatred of Muslims in Video | website=Courthouse News Service | date=October 11, 2019 | url=https://www.courthousenews.com/washington-state-lawmaker-espouses-hatred-of-muslims-in-video/ | access-date=May 18, 2021}}

{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shea, Matt}}

Category:1974 births

Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party members of the Washington House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature

Category:Politicians from Spokane, Washington

Category:Military personnel from Spokane, Washington

Category:People from Spokane Valley, Washington

Category:Gonzaga University alumni

Category:Gonzaga University School of Law alumni

Category:Lawyers from Spokane, Washington

Category:Washington (state) lawyers

Category:21st-century American far-right politicians