Trump supporter found with bombs and machine guns threatened to attack Democrats and Twitter, FBI says

A vocal Trump supporter in Northern California faces federal charges after authorities discovered he had a stash of pipe bombs and thousands of cartridges and discussed attacking Democrats and media companies social.

Ian Rogers, 43, was arrested on January 15, after authorities searched his home and business and discovered a small arsenal of weapons including automatic weapons, pipe bombs, at least 49 rifles and 15,000 ammo.

“We draw a clear line between lawlessness and our constitutional freedoms,” U.S. Attorney David L Anderson said. said in a press release. “We will prosecute illegal stockpiles of weapons regardless of the offender’s motivation.”

Mr Rogers, who owned an auto repair shop in Napa, is charged with unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices after he told authorities he built pipe bombs.

Neighbors told ABC 7 that Mr. Rogers was normal and friendly but was a strong Trump supporter, and police research provided evidence that Mr. Rogers considered attacking Democrats and media companies social if Mr. Trump did not do it first.

Read more: Follow all the latest news and updates from the Biden administration live

‘Let’s see what happens, if nothing happens I’m going to war,’ Mr Rogers was quoted as saying told a partner.

Potential targets, according to the text messages, were “Democrats, Twitter, etc.” and “bag office first,” which FBI agents say refers to the office of Sacramento, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.

The FBI said Mr. Rogers had a sticker on his car with an emblem for the Three-Percenters, a radical anti-government militia, and had a fake “White Privilege” credit card, with the words “TRUMPS EVERYTHING” and the number 45. again and again. Donald Trump was the 45th president.

Taken together, the FBI wrote, these documents “indicate his belief that Donald Trump has won the 2020 presidential election and his intent to attack Democrats and places associated with Democrats in an effort to ensure that Trump remains in office.” able”.

His mother insisted he was being made an example of and the accusations were exaggerated, saying the explosives were just fireworks.

“I think it all depends on what happens with the inauguration, that’s all,” she told ABC 7 news. “It’s a precaution and they use it as an example.”

The charges, which followed earlier ones in state court, came the same day one of six militiamen charged with trying to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, also a Democrat, pleaded guilty, and the Department of Homeland Security. issued an alert that anti-government terrorism could continue in the Biden administration.