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FBI Wanted Obama Plotters Charged, But A Rove Appointee Said No
We noticed last week that it was awfully peculiar that Colorado’s U.S. Attorney, Troy Eid, had so airily dismissed conspiracy charges against the three white-supremacist tweakers who were caught planning to assassinate Barack Obama at last week’s Democratic National Convention in Denver.
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Even more significant, beyond the details of the plot, was the fact that, as the Colorado Independent notes, the FBI asked for more serious charges to be filed and were turned down.
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Another funny thing: When a black man in prison sent a threatening letter containing baby powder to John McCain, Troy Eid brought down the full force of the law, complete with press conferences and public declarations that "We won't stand for threats of this kind in Colorado."
But when it’s a claque of white men with rifles, disguises, and all the accoutrement of a conspiracy – as well as open admissions to it – Troy Eid isn’t worried. After all, they just a bunch of harmless, tweakers, right? … Just like little Timmy McVeigh.
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Based on the evidence, FBI special agent Robert Sawyer believed there was probable cause to charge the men with conspiracy to kill Senator Obama. However, US Attorney Troy Eid last week said there is insufficient evidence to indicate a true threat, plot or conspiracy against the senator.
Fire Dog Lake has the story.
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Reading this pains me to the core. This is entrenched racism at it's clearest and an example of how deep the reach of the politicized justice department is. The Bush administration and the forces of the extreme right are divisive in the extreme. We must take our country back and have our goverment have respect for all the people. I hope all readers recommend this because it should be known and not buried. Thanks for posting.
September 4, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
UNBELIEVABLE this sort of partisan bullshit is sickening.
September 4, 2008 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Question: Did Obama's Secret Service detail have any say in whether or not they perceived a threat? How could a group of people who admitted that they intended to kill Obama, and had the weaponry to carry out that intent, have just been released?
There is more to this story/cover up.
PEACE
September 5, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
it's not racism per se. they just don't want obama to get a sympathy bounce.
yes.
they are that cold.
September 4, 2008 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
noe exit;
spot-on, you are probably right.
but this may become one of the stories behind the stories that will come to the front burner any day now.
I rarely get sincerely outraged these days, but this really spins my top...
September 4, 2008 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
U.S. Attorney Troy Eid (appointed by Bush)
email from his site: jeffrey.dorschner@usdoj.gov
September 2, 2008 UPDATE: Tharin Gartrell has a detention hearing and preliminary hearing:
Tharin Gartrell appeared in U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty’s court this morning for a detention hearing and a preliminary hearing. The defendant waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Thus, Magistrate Judge Hegarty found there was probable cause that Gartrell committed the drug trafficking crime alleged in the Criminal Complaint. Also, Magistrate Judge Hegarty ordered Gartrell released to a half-way house, however Gartrell will likely remain in custody as he faces a probation violation hearing in Denver. The defendant’s next court hearing is Friday, September 12th, for arraignment. The government has 30 days from August 28, 2008, to obtain a federal grand jury indictment.
Shawn Adolf and Nathan Johnson are not likely to appear in federal court this week.
August 28, 2008 UPDATE: Tharin Gartrell appears in U.S. District Court in Denver:
Tharin Gartrell appeared this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Denver. Gartrell appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Tafoya, where he was advised of the charges pending against him, as well as the penalty associated with those charges (possession of Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 2 years in federal prison). Magistrate Judge Tafoya ordered the Federal Public Defenders’ office to represent Gartrell. The government notified the court that it is seeking Gartrell’s detention. The next court hearing for Gartrell will be Tuesday, September 2, 2008, at 10:00 am before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty, for a detention hearing and a preliminary hearing.
Shawn Adolf and Nathan Johnson are not likely to appear in federal court this week.
August 26, 2008 UPDATE: Three men face federal charges in U.S. District Court in Denver:
As was announced on August 26, 2008, three defendants face federal charges as a result of an investigation which started with a traffic stop made by an Aurora Police officer Sunday morning. Firearms, scopes, a bullet proof vest, and Methamphetamine were discovered during the traffic stop.
Tharin Gartrell is charged federally with possession of Methamphetamine. Gartrell is in federal custody, and is scheduled to appear in US District Court in Denver this afternoon at 1:30 pm. The appearance will be in U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Tafoya’s courtroom, at 901 19th Street. Gartrell will be advised of the charges pending against him.
Shawn Adolf is charged federally with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of body armor by a violent felon, and possession of a controlled substance. Adolf is in state custody in Burlington, Colorado. He is not likely going to appear in federal court this week.
Nathan Johnson is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of Methamphetamine. Nathan Johnson is in state custody in Denver, Colorado. He is not likely going to appear in federal court this week
September 4, 2008 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is troubling.
Letting conspirators loose can have grave repercussions. Let's not forget that when Lee Harvey Oswald threatened to blow up the FBI in the now famous "Hosty note", the FBI ignored this and failed to report the incident to the Secret Service or anyone else.
Oswald went on to (allegedly) assassinate JFK.
http://www.maryferrell.org/wiki/index.php/Destruction_of_the_Oswald_Note
September 4, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
The greatest (and probable intended) consequence, is to set a tone. For what sort of things will be prosecuted. Try to kill a Democrat. . . if you don't succeed, no problem.
Joke about Dick Cheney's tax policy being bad for the country. . . well, that's aiding and abetting terrorists.
September 5, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is becoming fascism. People toss around the term a lot. But this is what it means: violent tyranny to hold on to power. Aiding and abetting political assassins is one hallmark of fascist regimes. (Germany, Japan, Italy in the 1930s)
September 4, 2008 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, I hear British Columbia is really beautiful...
September 4, 2008 10:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is becoming fascism. People toss around the term a lot. But this is what it means: violent tyranny to hold on to power. Aiding and abetting political assassins is one hallmark of fascist regimes. (Germany, Japan, Italy in the 1930s)
September 4, 2008 9:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a clear cut example of institutionalized racism. It also provides a window into one of the many the forces opposing the candidacy of Barack Obama.
This incident speaks volumes about the breadth and depth of racial division, social injustice and inequality permeating our country.
Nevertheless, we must remain diligent. We must take back out government. We must get Obama elected in Nov. We simply must!
September 4, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a clear cut example of institutionalized racism. It also provides a window into one of the many the forces opposing the candidacy of Barack Obama.
This incident speaks volumes about the breadth and depth of racial division, social injustice and inequality permeating our country.
Nevertheless, we must remain diligent. We must take back out government. We must get Obama elected in Nov. We simply must!
September 4, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a clear cut example of institutionalized racism. It also opens a window into one of the many the forces opposing the candidacy of Barack Obama.
This incident speaks volumes about the breadth and depth of racial division, social injustice and inequality permeating our country.
Nevertheless, we must remain diligent. We must take back out government. We must get Obama elected in Nov. We simply must!
September 4, 2008 9:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is becoming fascism. People toss around the term a lot. But this is what it means: violent tyranny to hold on to power. Aiding and abetting political assassins is one hallmark of fascist regimes. (Germany, Japan, Italy in the 1930s)
September 4, 2008 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is becoming fascism. People toss around the term a lot. But this is what it means: violent tyranny to hold on to power. Aiding and abetting political assassins is one hallmark of fascist regimes. (Germany, Japan, Italy in the 1930s)
September 4, 2008 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Keith and Chris will take some time to investigate this story...not likely anyone else has the guts.
Where is Bill Moyers? Bill, we NEED you NOW!
September 4, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Keith and Chris will take some time to investigate this story...not likely anyone else has the guts.
Where is Bill Moyers? Bill, we NEED you NOW!
September 4, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Republicans don't want to attract attention to conspiracies against Democrats, for some very strange reason.
September 5, 2008 1:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Other than a minor* who reported some delinquents engaged in a drugged-out bull session, what evidence, if any, did the FBI have that anyone involved in the "conspiracy" did anything in furtherance thereof?
What? You want a fascist, police state! Talk about "Be careful what you wish for; you might just get it".
* The girlfriend was probably whacked out herself when she overheard the conversation -- great witness.
September 5, 2008 6:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe the FBI could've gotten some traction if they'd said the guys were looking to commit a terrorist act at a football stadium, rather than conspiring to kill a black guy.
September 5, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hear New Zealand is nice too!
September 5, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Based on the dates the AG was appointed, I guess it is safe to assume that he passed the 'good Bushie' test that had been put in place.
Using this test MAY have been Rove's idea but, we'll probably never know as he won't testify about it.
The Justice Department IG office investigated but the US Attorney General (who replaced Gonzales) decided that the folks who had improperly used the 'Bushie' test to qualify candidates had suffered enough and no further action would be taken.
Of course, nothing will be done to replace the US Attorneys who were hired under this corrupt practice either.
September 5, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with the decision
In law school we were cautioned that a good prosecutor could get a grand jury to indite a ham sandwich and had a reasonable chance of obtaining a conviction for conspiracy.
We were told that conspiracy is an easy charge to make and it calls for restraint. An experience prosecutor told us he used the "talk and beer test" if it was said without a coordinated act designed to further the "plan" he would ignore talk and boasting especially if drinking was involved in a meeting - serious conspiracies are indicated by sober participants.
In one case you had acts done that formed a crime. Powder was sent to frighten a candidate.
In the other it sounds like it would be hard to get beyond talk and beer. This kind of redneck would have guns anyway.
September 5, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Trying to hang on to some faith --- wouldn't the Secret Service have been involved in this and wouldn't they have the final say about pressing charges? (or at least the ability to press charges on their own?) It could be that the matter was equivocal and that both Secret Service AND Obama himself wanted to go in the direction of NOT making this a big public issue. (Possibly greater danger from copies than from the original cat...) Just possible.
September 5, 2008 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm guessing this issue "might" be revisited after Bush leaves the White House.
September 5, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's see, now:
Amy Goodman and the independent media are arrested...
but three thugs with guns can't be taken seriously?
It is DEFINITELY time for a change of leadership.
September 8, 2008 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink