Five Alaska Militia Members Arrested in Plot to Murder Judge, State Troopers

Five members of a sovereign citizen right wing militia group were arrested yesterday in Alaska over a plot to murder state judges and law enforcement. The five are led by Francis “Schaeffer” Cox, who has had numerous run-ins with law enforcement in the past couple of years.

Francis “Schaeffer” Cox, Lonnie Vernon, Karen Vernon, Coleman Barney and Michael Anderson are accused of conspiring to commit murder, kidnapping, and arson, as well as weapons misconduct, hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence, according to trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters in a written statement late Thursday.

An investigation “revealed extensive plans to kidnap or kill Alaska state troopers and a Fairbanks judge,” the statement said. The plans included “extensive surveillance” on the homes of two Fairbanks troopers, the statement said.

“Investigation also revealed that extensive surveillance on troopers in the Fairbanks area had occurred, specifically on the locations of the homes for two Alaska state troopers,” the statement said. “Furthermore, Cox et. al. had acquired a large cache of weapons in order to carry out attacks against their targeted victims. Some of the weapons known to be in the cache are prohibited by state or federal law.”

U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler said Lonnie Vernon, 55, was arrested for threatening to kill a federal judge. She said more information about federal charges would be released today Fairbanks Police Chief Loren Zager said the operation involved multiple police actions related to Fairbanks-area members of the “sovereign citizen” movement.

Cox isn't playing with a full deck as he dabbles in conspiracy theories that would give rise to the UN controlling the US and that the US and state governments are illegitimate and have been since actions taken by President Lincoln dissolved the US Constitution and reformed the government. He thinks that going to prison will give him the opportunity to recruit more to his cause.



Moreover, doesn't consider the courts to have any jurisdiction over him either:

If you've been following the ongoing matter of the misdemeanor weapons misconduct charges against Fairbanks militia leader Schaeffer Cox since hearings began this month, you know it has been unusual. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported that at a recent hearing, Cox argued on his own behalf that Alaska's court system is a for-profit corporation and has no authority over him because he is a "sovereign citizen." He also presented District Judge Patrick Hammers with "criminal papers" and a restraining order issued by "a de jure" court. After the hearing Cox told the News-Miner he's not concerned about jail time: “Worst case, I go to jail for 30 days and educate all the prisoners and leave a screaming bee hive behind me." Also after the hearing, Cox told a trooper that militia members have the Alaska State Troopers "outmanned and outgunned" and "could probably have [them] all dead in one night." Read much, much more from the News-Miner's Dec. 15 report, here.

This guy believes that Lincoln replaced the US Constitution with one that incorporated the US:

Cox claims he and all Americans are sovereigns, or kings and queens, and no one is required to obey laws unless not doing so would directly harm other sovereigns. Much of his claims center around the belief President Lincoln subverted the original Constitution and replaced it with a copy that incorporated the United States. Over the summer, the Southern Poverty Law Center released a report estimating that as many 300,000 Americans consider themselves sovereign citizens. The movement has grown with the poor economy, the growth of the Internet and the election of President Obama.

Cox believes the federal government will fail soon and a de jure — or legally established — republic will be at the ready to replace it. Cox also claims to be the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff in the de jure republic.

The dubiousness of these kinds of claims makes you want to
*double facepalm* - when one simply wont do. Yet,there is a small but notable group of people who are pushing these kinds of claims, and they're armed and willing to act on their distorted worldview.

This guy is a loony bin of crazy:

Cox, a carpenter by trade, leads a group called the Second Amendment Task Force. Its website features combat footage from Afghanistan alongside videos detailing a United Nations-orchestrated plot to deprive Americans of their constitutional right to bear arms. Earlier this year, Cox founded a second organization, the Fairbanks-based Alaska Peacemakers Militia. Its members pledge to keep “thugs” from doing “stupid, lawless stuff” in the event of a natural disaster or the collapse of civil society. They also warn of dire consequences if the federal government crosses a rather loosely defined “line in the sand.”

Friday Night News Dump: Gov. Palin To Resign

Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican governor from Alaska, is stepping down. It had been rumored that she wasn't going to seek reelection, but this takes things to a whole different level.

Gov. Sarah Palin will resign her office in a few weeks, she said during a news conference at her Wasilla home Friday morning.

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the Governor’s Picnic at Pionner Park in Fairbanks on Saturday, July 25, Palin said.

There was no immediate word as to why she will resign, though speculation has been rampant that the former vice presidential candidate is gearing up for a run at the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Palin made the announcement flanked by Parnell and most, if not all, of her cabinet.

It's only a matter of time before word gets out as to the reason why she's resigning. It would be better if she had done so up front, so as to reduce the speculation that is sure to swirl.

She's going to have to explain her reasoning for resigning instead of serving out her term. You can bet that the left wing is salivating over possible reasons. I can only hope that it isn't something wrong medically or family related.

UPDATE:
It's one thing to prepare to run for the Presidency in 2012, which has long been rumored. It's quite another to step down from her current office to do so. It's not like other politicians have campaigned for higher office while serving in other political positions. We'll have to see what the real deal is here.

Sen. Ted Stevens Guilty In Alaska Corruption Case

Sen. Ted Stevens (AK-R) was found guilty of seven counts in a corruption case.

The verdict, coming just days before Election Day, adds further uncertainty to a closely watched Senate race. Democrats hope to seize the once reliably Republican seat as part of their bid for a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Stevens, 84, was convicted of all seven charges he faced of lying about free home renovations and other gifts he received from a wealthy oil contractor. Jurors began deliberating Wednesday at noon.

Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count when he is sentenced Jan. 26, but under federal sentencing guidelines, he is likely to receive much less prison time, if any.

The monthlong trial revealed that employees for oil services company VECO Corp. transformed the senator's modest mountain cabin into a modern, two-story home with wraparound porches, a sauna and a wine cellar. Stevens never paid for VECO's work.

Stevens refused to step down from the Senate and is unrepentant. I think the realization that he's going to prison might change that tune, though I doubt it.

The timing sure isn't going to help Republicans hold on to their current seats in the Senate, but then again, the Democrats can't exactly capitalize on this scandal with three of their own - Rep. William Jefferson and the $90,000 in cold cash stashed in his fridge; Rep. Charles Rangel whose tax bill is still being tallied after failing to pay income taxes over a period of years; and Rep. Tim Mahoney who admitted to extramarital affairs, but who also may have used sex to solicit campaign funds.

Expect the media to focus heavily on the Stevens conviction, particularly because of the Alaska connection and the hope that they can somehow smear Gov. Sarah Palin in the process, even though Palin fought to rid the state of corrupt politicians, including fellow Republicans.

Senator Stevens Bridge to Corruption

Loathsome Republican Ted Stevens of Alaska has been indicted on charges of corruption stemming from a year long investigation into Alaskan politics. It's a seven count indictment.

Stevens was a champion of the Bridge to Nowhere, a $400 million pork transportation project that would have built a bridge that helped an extremely small segment of the Alaskan population and where other alternatives already existed.

His greed and avarice along with the penchant for pork are what helped the GOP lose seats in 2006. The sooner the GOP distances itself from Stevens, the better for the party's political prospects moving forward.

UPDATE:
The seven charges relate to making false statements.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

At the same time, it's a good idea to check in with some other corrupt politicians, including Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) who continues to pull a government paycheck even after investigators found $90,000 in cold cash in his freezer, and the House leadership moved to protect him from FBI investigators.

There's plenty of corrupt politicians in government, and it is in everyone's interest of ridding the government of the bad apples. Still, it does appear that there's a wee bit of bias when it comes to how such stories are reported and the time in which those politicians are sent packing. We're still waiting on Jefferson being dispatched from the House (not even a censure as yet), and watch for calls for Stevens to resign today.

UPDATE:
The AP has put out a handy dandy sheet of those members of Congress who have been charged with crimes, but it seems rather lopsided (mostly GOPers). Indeed, it appears that a few are missing. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) comes to mind. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) got off after a grand jury couldn't find sufficient evidence after she slugged a Capitol Policeman.

Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) wasn't included, even though he engaged in unethical conduct towards House pages.

This is a more substantive list.

UPDATE:
Hot Air has more, including Stevens' ties to an oil services company which may have provided services including doubling the size of Stevens' home.

Others blogging: Cold Fury and Ed Driscoll, who gets kudos for his headline.

UPDATE:
Don Surber notes that the AP sent Lara Jakes Jordan to cover the Stevens story. She happened to be the same reporter who covered Cold Cash Jefferson and omitted Jefferson's political affiliation giving rise to the name that party moniker (and which I have also since added as a label).

Also, McCain should respond quickly by saying that this is exactly the kind of dysfunctional and corruption he's been fighting in Congress for years. It might shore up his credibility and stem any possible fallout from another GOPer coming under indictment.

UPDATE:
Expect fellow GOPers to throw Stevens under the bus and call for his resignation, which stands in contrast to how Democrats chose to stand besides Jefferson when investigators found the $90,000 stuffed in his freezer. Already, there are calls for his resignation from Redstate now (should have come much earlier).