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The Department of Justice apprehended two men that were planning to attack the Democratic headquarters in Sacramento, California.
Ian Benjamin Rogers and Jarrod Copeland were arrested and charged with conspiracy to destroy a building used or in affecting interstate commerce by fire or explosive. Rogers is also facing weapons chargers — federal authorities found ammunition, 49 firearms, and five pipe bombs at his home and business.
According to Justice Department court filings, encrypted text messages between the two men reveal their desires to attack and overthrow the government.
“I want to blow up a democrat building bad,” Rogers texted to Copeland in January.
“Plan attack,” Copeland replied.
Prosecutors say that the men were motivated to overthrow the government after former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 Presidential election.
“I believe that these latter messages indicate Rogers’ belief that Trump (“45″) actually won the presidential election and should ‘go to war’ to ensure he remained in power,” an FBI special agent said.
Rogers and Copeland also discussed attacking billionaire George Soros and Twitter. Investigators found a “go bag,” helmet, rifles, elbow and knee pads, ammunition, anabolic steroids, and zip ties in Copeland’s home.
“The fact that he still had them six months later indicates that he still believed a situation would arise where he would need to take prisoners,” a court filing says. “His sentiments are deeply felt and long-standing and reflect a belief that the government is illegitimate. He is not likely to obey rules imposed on him by someone he views as part of a tyrannical government.”
“It doesn’t matter for our purposes whether the steroids make Copeland violent and aggressive, or he seeks out steroids because he tends to be more violent and aggressive. Either way, he is a greater danger to the community,” prosecutors said.
Copeland was dismissed from the military with a “other than honorable” discharge in 2016.
In June, Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed a plan to fight against domestic terrorism.
“We will never take our eyes off the risk of another devastating attack by foreign terrorists,” he said. “At the same time, we must respond to domestic terrorism with the same sense of purpose and dedication.”
