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Since being slapped with a $6.3 million civil judgment and losing its compound in the past two years, Aryan Nations has gone through many leadership changes. Richard Butler, who brought the group to northern Idaho, had named Neumann Britton the successor to Aryan Nations' throne. In August 2001, Britton died of cancer. Following Britton's death, Butler named a new staff: Ray Redfearin, National Director; August Kreis, Director of Information; and Shaun Winkler, Director of Aryan Nations Youth Corps. Now, Redfearin and Kreis say they have kicked Butler and Winkler out of Aryan Nations and the group's headquarters are moving to Pennsylvania.

In late January, the Aryan Nations' website said the group was no longer "answerable" or "accountable" for the actions of Butler and the racists in Hayden Lake, Idaho. It criticized Butler for allowing himself to be influenced by "saboteurs," and "idiots with guns." The current leaders said they would not stand by and watch Aryan Nations ruined because of this "incompetence and stupidity."

The dispute arose over Shaun Winkler, a close ally of Butler. Redfearin relieved Winkler of his Aryan Nations' duties and membership. In response, Butler tried to remove Redfearin and Kreis from their leadership positions. Instead, Redfearin contacted Aryan Nations' state leaders and took control of the group. On the Aryan Nations website, Redfearin said he knew "jackals and the backbiting dogs" would complain that this was a plot to steal Aryan Nations from Butler. Anticipating that, Redfearin announced he would step down as the group's leader in March, and the hate group would be run by an "Aryan Nations High Council" consisting of three people. Redfearin said this would prove that the group did not belong to one person but to "Aryan people."

Redfearin and Kreis have told the media that they want to clean up Aryan Nations' image by ridding the group of "weirdos, winos and clowns." Redfearin is a convicted felon and shot a police officer in 1985. Kreis, a leader of the Pennsylvania Posse Comitatus, vehemently claims that the government is controlled by evil Jews, but lives off of welfare benefits. The pair has announced that James Wickstrom will be serving as "Special Counsel" during the current transition. Wickstrom is a Christian Identity adherent and prolific anti-Semitic writer. Christian Identity teaches that Jews are the literal children of Satan, and people of color are sub-human "mud people." Wickstrom has served time for impersonating a public official and being part of a counterfeit money scheme. He has long been associated with the Posse Comitatus, at one point running a joint website for the Posse with Kreis.

Richard Butler is fighting the current leadership takeover. He has told the media that he is still the leader of Aryan Nations. He has called Redfearin and Kreis "pirates" bent on stealing his hate group. He has announced he will get his own website up and running, and that Idaho is still the headquarters of Aryan Nations.

According to a letter by Butler mailed to Aryan Nations members, Kreis and Redfearin were removed from leadership for violating the Aryan Nations Handbook. They are charged with having malicious behavior toward racist comrades, improper attitudes, and engaging in anti-Aryan Nations activity.