ATF Arrests Arkansas, Tennessee Men in Plot to Kill Obama

[ck4829]

Two men have been charged with making threats against presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tennessee and Paul Schlesselman, 18, of West Helena were charged in a federal complaint last Friday of illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun, conspiracy to rob a federal firearms licensee, and making threats against a major candidate for the Office of President.

According to the complaint, Cowart and Schlesselman met via the Internet through a mutual friend last month, with both men claiming to have very strong beliefs regarding "White Power" and "Skinhead" philosophies.

The complaint said the pair discussed robbing a gun shop in order to gather weapons and ammunition to use in a 'killing spree.'

According to the complaint, the defendants further discussed their killing spree to include targeting a predominately African American school, and to continue their spree until their final act of violence, which would be to attempt to assassinate Obama.

http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=9246347&nav=menu67_2

[NightWatcher]

1. video here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDB9oCgVHGw

[justiceischeap]

2. Wonder if they met on FR? (eom)

[northernsoul]

3. I hate to say it, but expect to see more of this

The rhetoric of the McCain/Palin campaign has made a lot of nutcases feel validated and empowered to act on their lunacy.

[DemoRabbit]

4. Timing on the release of these court records is nothing but suspect

and rovian.

Think about how "perfect" this is to them... shoot the pres and a whole bunch of kids??? What could be more "scary" all in one swoop.

Yes, I'm THAT cynical.

[uppityperson]

5. k&r for a post with information in it. Thanks. More info/link....

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9246417

n October 20, 2008, Cowart allegedly traveled from Tennessee to Arkansas to pick up Schlesselman in order to carry out their plan. The Complaint states that at this time, the defendants further discussed their killing spree to include targeting a predominately African American School and to continue their spree until their final act of violence which would be to attempt to assassinate Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. "The United States Secret Service takes all threats against Presidential Candidates seriously and is actively investigating the allegations," said Richard Harlow, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service-Memphis Field Office. "The Secret Service does not comment on this type of investigation."

The Complaint further notes that the defendants stated that they would be willing to die during this attempt. According to the Complaint, after soliciting a friend, to drive their car, between 11:00pm on October 21, 2008 and 2:00am on October 22, 2008, the defendants made plans to rob a house but were diverted when they arrived and observed a dog and two cars at the location. Cowart and Schlesselman then dropped Stafford back off at her residence and then went to a local retail store and allegedly purchased nylon rope and two ski masks.

"It is critical that the alleged plot was interrupted," said James Cavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge of ATF. "We give credit to the Deputies of Crockett and Haywood Counties. All forces of law enforcement have come together to stop this threat."

The Defendants were arrested on October 22, 2008 by the Crockett County Sheriff's Office. "Once we arrested the defendants and suspected they had violated federal law, we immediately contacted federal authorities, " said Sheriff Troy Klyce of Crockett County. "The Sheriff's Department is committed to keeping Crockett County a safe place for our all of citizens."

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Oh goody. More ignorant, racist, teen-age 'skinheads', aka, neo-Nazis. Willing to bet good money

that neither one has even a GED. But they believe their 'god's superior race'.

[NWPatriot]

6. Arkansas and Tennessee?

Cue the theme from "Deliverance"....

(with apologies to all Arkansan & Tennessean DUer's out there...)

[ITsec]

7. West Helena, AR.... that was the town that was under martial law lockdown...

Great place.

:sarcasm:

http://www.wxvt.com/Global/story.asp?S=8818645&nav=menu1344_2

[reflection]

13. delete

No sense in disparaging West Helena because of a few nimrods.

[TexasObserver]

8. How is it that Secret Service was involved, if there was such a threat?

[TWiley]

9. REPUBLICAN BASTARDS

Can we trust our government to protect our candidate when a portion of it is the primary suspect in so many political assassinations?

[indepat]

11. Bells and West Helena are about equal distance from Memphis where Jame Earl Ray

did his handiwork in '68. :cry:

[sickinohio]

12. Isn't this what was the Secret Service

said about complaints that have been made about the freaks at the McLame/Failin rallys that were yelling "Kill" and "terrorist"? I seem to remember them saying exactly those words. Just sayin and you never know.

From the article above:

"The United States Secret Service takes all threats against Presidential Candidates seriously and is actively investigating the allegations,"