The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Count Gov. Bob McDonnell as one of the many governors across the nation to get an ominous letter from an anti-government group in recent days.
Authorities and administration officials declined to reveal the contents of the letter, which arrived Wednesday. Sources said its message mirrored that of other letters sent to governors, advising them to leave office within three days or face removal.
The group purportedly behind the missive is Guardians of the Free Republics, which advocates the restoration of America through nonviolent means by decentralizing and undoing aspects of government, according to its Web site.
The FBI does not see threats of violence in the group's message but has warned police that the broad call for removing top state officials could lead others to act out violently.
McDonnell spokeswoman Stacey Johnson said the copy sent to the governor's office has been turned over to the Richmond FBI office.
"The Virginia State Police is aware of this matter, and the governor and his family are secure at all times," she wrote in an e-mail.
Citing security protocols, Johnson declined to say if any additional precautions have been taken to safeguard the governor or the state Capitol complex.
M.A. Myers, supervisory special agent with the Richmond FBI, said his office is involved in an inquiry into the letters' origins.
"We're aware of the circumstances surrounding this letter being sent to several governors around the country.... We're investigating it nationally," said Myers, who declined to comment further.
The FBI warning comes at a time of heightened attention to extremist groups after the arrest last weekend of nine Christian militia members accused of plotting violence.
In explaining the letters sent to the governors, the FBI's intelligence note says officials have no specific knowledge of plans to use violence, but they caution police to be aware in case other people interpret the letters "as a justification for violence or other criminal actions."
The FBI associated the letter with "sovereign citizens," most of whom believe they are free from all duties of a U.S. citizen, such as paying taxes or needing a government-issued license to drive. A small number of these people are armed and will resort to violence, according to the intelligence report.
More than 30 governors had received copies of the letter as of Wednesday. Ideology apparently isn't a factor. Among the governors receiving the missives were Democrat Jennifer Granholm of Michigan and Republican Bobby Jindal of Louisiana.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Look at this comment below and ask yourself?
Here is a post on this forum. Read it. Put your politics aside and ask yourself if you can see the "Ugly American"
"In other news, the federal government warns of radical right wingers - particularly evil, white, rich people who worship Christ. "We will tax the filthy bourgeois into oblivion," says King Hussein Obama, newly elected ruler (for the 8th consecutive reign) of the People's Republic of the United States. "Long live the proletariat!" Today he issued an injunction against all Christians declaring their religion racist, homophobic, and pedophilic. Another clause of the injunction offers asylum to muslim refugees from the middle east"
Folks, is this where America is going? The hyper partisian is extremism to the core and very scary. He is bred from Hacks like Hannity,Beck,Limbaugh etc. How far will it go?
the rants....of all kinds
Listening to the ever escalating rhetoric of people in politics these days, and their flirting with threats and innuendo, not to mention the violent behavior of people in the hallways of the Congress recently, I wonder if people realize that words cannot be unspoken and the genie cannot be put back into the bottle. There are always people "out there" waiting for a "message from the mother ship" to spring into action. Add to that the fact that anything that happens anywhere can be received by anyone within seconds of the event and you have an incendiary situation. Mouths are just spewing out sewerage as well as spittle mindlessly. There are always people who don't agree with you, me, your mother, children...anyone. Be careful and intelligent with your speech.
More stuff from the bunker people
Threats from people like this need to be taken seriously. These are the crazies that believe in so much of the conspiracy garbage and they take action because of such beliefs. With the threats being made against both Republican and Democratic leaders, it goes to show such groups aren't just one sided by any means. Freedom of speech only goes so far.
If these people think they have it so tough here in America, they should move to another country and see how well their ideas and actions would be accepted.
You Are Right
What scares me is that these right-wing militias and nut-case groups will push is into a police state that will affect legitimate political organizations of all kinds.
what gives
The moderator doesn't approve my posts, but approves the rantings of crazy people, like the birthers who still believe the president doesn't have a real birth certificate. What's the standard? Who's the moderator, Fox News?
right wing Christians have
right wing Christians have considerable leeway on this site. They can say nasty things that other groups can not. I think the Pilot is simply catering to their readership in that regard.
Are you kidding??? "right
Are you kidding??? "right wing Christians have considerable leeway on this site". that is the most crazy thing i have seen written on here. The Viriginian Pilot is the MOST LIBERAL rag there is, definatley NOT right leaning, so please spare us the blather about that. They are about as far left as you can get and still be called a newspaper (its really just one big liberal advertisement) but its the only one in town...UNFORTUNATELY.
Threats
It seems that we already have enough problems dealing with Arab terrorist, now home grown terrorists are coming out of the woodwork! Sending letters to Governors is just plain stupid. You are AMERICANS threating other AMERICANS! If you resort to sending threats,you are no better then the ones our guys are fighting in Iraq. You say by "non-violet means", who are you kidding? Some nut case out there is going to take you seriously and try to be a "hero" to the "Revolution" by killing innocent people. I hope that the FBI,CIA or whoever,catches these idiots, puts them away for a long, long time.
In other news, the federal
In other news, the federal government warns of radical right wingers - particularly evil, white, rich people who worship Christ. "We will tax the filthy bourgeois into oblivion," says King Hussein Obama, newly elected ruler (for the 8th consecutive reign) of the People's Republic of the United States. "Long live the proletariat!" Today he issued an injunction against all Christians declaring their religion racist, homophobic, and pedophilic. Another clause of the injunction offers asylum to muslim refugees from the middle east.
Your Sad really sad
Not sure about you, your not American you can't be. Americans don't think like you true Americans think about how good they have it, and do things to make others better. Help is in Americans DNA making things better for all.