State Employee’s Anonymous Online Activity Draws Scrutiny
A regional labor economist employed by the Idaho Department of Labor operated anonymous social media accounts that promoted pro-Russian views, far-right commentary, and Nazi imagery, according to public records and online investigation. The discovery has raised questions about the conduct of state employees and the boundaries between personal speech and official employment.
Sam Wolkenhauer, a research analyst supervisor at the Idaho Department of Labor since 2015, is identified as the operator of accounts under the name “Big Serge” on the social media platform X and the newsletter service Substack. The Big Serge X account commands more than 196,000 followers, while the Big Serge Thought newsletter ranks as the 20th most popular history publication on Substack, with a verified subscriber base exceeding 1,000 paying members.
Wolkenhauer created the accounts in 2022, during Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. Posts on both platforms included pro-Russian commentary, attacks on Ukrainian perspectives using derogatory language, and content attacking LGBTQ individuals and other groups. In one post, Wolkenhauer called for mass executions in response to a UK grooming investigation. Many posts were published during standard working hours.
The accounts generated substantial revenue. The Substack newsletter charged $5 per month or $50 per year for subscriber access, generating an estimated annual income of at least $50,000 based on the verified subscriber count.
Discovery and Response
The identity connection was made by TUA Research, an open source intelligence group, using registration data from a Substack leak. When contacted by an investigative outlet in June, Wolkenhauer initially denied operating online accounts. Within hours of that contact, hundreds of posts were deleted from the X account.
Wolkenhauer publicly revealed his identity on June 26. In response, he characterized the posts as “exaggerated mockery” of neo-Nazism, antisemitism, and misogyny, rather than expressions of genuine belief.
The Idaho Department of Labor declined to discuss specifics of the matter, citing personnel confidentiality laws. Bureau Chief Darlene Carnopis issued a general statement: “All state employees are expected to adhere to state laws and policies applicable to their employment.”
Background and Context
Wolkenhauer was promoted to supervisor in spring 2025. Prior to the discovery of his accounts, he presented economic research to North Idaho realtors in May 2025. In his professional capacity, Wolkenhauer has described himself as having studied roughly 100 books on Russian history.
The case underscores ongoing tensions between public employee conduct and free speech, particularly when online activity involves extremist content. State employment policies typically require that workers avoid conduct that reflects poorly on their agencies, though the precise application to anonymous personal speech remains contested in courts across the country.
The Big Serge accounts, which Wolkenhauer maintained for four years before public identification, demonstrate how state employees can build substantial followings and generate significant income through private online ventures while holding positions in government.
What Comes Next
The Idaho Department of Labor has not announced any formal investigation or disciplinary action. Whether the agency will take personnel steps depends partly on the content of remaining posts and the interpretation of state employee conduct policies. The case may prompt broader review of how Idaho monitors employee social media conduct and defines acceptable behavior for state workers.