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More than 30 governors have received threatening letters from an anti-government group calling itself Guardians of the Free Republics. The letters warn the governors to leave office within three days or be forcibly removed.
"It basically said, resign, ask for forgiveness and then we'll reinstate you, and if you sign this we'll consider you re-elected," Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat, told reporters Friday.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are investigating. They do not believe the group is violent.
"The FBI has been very careful to say there aren't specific threats in this letter," says Matt DeCample, Beebe's spokesman.
But investigators are concerned that the letter may spur others to violence.
Rejecting All Forms Of Government
The FBI has informed all 50 governors that they will receive the letter. It sees the group as subscribing to the "sovereign citizen" philosophy, which finds government to be illegitimate.
"These are individuals who reject all forms of government and they believe they are emancipated from all the responsibilities associated with being U.S. citizens, such as paying taxes and obeying laws," FBI Special Agent J.J. Klaver told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
A list of goals on the Texas-based Guardians group's Web site includes the end of "tax prosecutions for resisting the transfer of private wealth to foreign banking cartels such as I.R.S. (former Puerto Rico Bureau of Taxation)" and issuing "orders to the military and police powers to enforce the Peoples’ divine rights of birth."
A Resurgence in Extremism
A DHS report last year found that "a number of economic and political factors are driving a resurgence in right-wing extremist recruitment and radicalization activity."
That report was controversial, but extremist groups are receiving additional attention from law enforcement following the arrest of nine Christian militia members last weekend.
Several members of Congress received threats or had offices damaged in the wake of passage of the health care law last month.
Security for Governors
Governors often receive round-the-clock protection from state troopers or other security details. State capitols, however, tend to be less secure than Congress, where all visitors pass through weapons screening.
In Nevada, screening machines for visitors and packages were added to the main entrance of the capitol in Carson City as a precaution. Officials in Pennsylvania, Utah and Vermont have stepped up security as well.
Some governors took the letter in stride, noting that they receive threats routinely. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, suggested that this letter has received additional attention because it was sent to so many governors.
"I'm just focused on doing my job and letting security worry about the threats," Beebe, the Arkansas governor, said.
Material from The Associated Press was used in this report
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Linda Gonzales (TinkinCO) wrote:
operating under the bond of the sovereign people and rightful freeholders on the land pursuant to Constitutional limitations. Each of the signatories to the said declaration have expressly, by that action, accepted the Constitution of their respective De Jour Republic and the Constitution for the United States of Americas c. 1787 as bindingcontracts upon you, thus memorializing their lawful standing and your duty to serve. With the burden of acting as a corporate agent under color of law lifted from your shoulders, this letter is intended to welcome you back to the brotherhood of mankind in the spirit of forgiveness. You and your children are free. The era of illicit corporations and banking cartels posed as legitimate governments is over.
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The people are committed to a peaceful, honorable and non-violent transition, which unfolds quietly behind the scenes as a mirror image reversal of the 1933 world coupe. It is the people’s intention, on behalf of your safety, that the general public be no more attuned to the return of their money, law and free holding than it was to their theft in 1933 under executive order 6102 and HJR192. For this reason, all the events described here under are classified top secret.
That’s it . . .
Wednesday, April 07, 2010 11:14:24 AM
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Linda Gonzales (TinkinCO) wrote:
Depository Trust Clearing Corporation. You are no longer insured to act in a de facto corporate capacity. The offices are now reabsorbed into the original De Jour capacity on the land, following the law of the land, respecting the Constitution. You can longer make it up as you go. You can no longer make up executive orders imposing your will on the people. It is back to real law, not admiralty fiction. The people are no longer protected against your misdeeds by your bond. All of your actions are now underwritten either by the people’s bond to protect them against accidents and misdeeds, or they can rely upon all of their own property and future labor. As of this day, the office of Governor, in each of the 50 incorporated States is reabsorbed into the De Jour office of Governor of the respective Republic. The armed forces of the United States duly presented with lawful De Jour authority are overseeing the implementation of certain general orders pursuant to the attached “Declaration of Restoration". As you may have heard, the Free American Republics and the De Jour United States of American Republic have been reinhabited by the sovereign people. As an operation of law, proper sovereign authority has been restored. You are now
Wednesday, April 07, 2010 11:11:04 AM
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Linda Gonzales (TinkinCO) wrote:
It's amazing to me that you can post an article like this & not demand the source material. How can you write so biasedly about something you haven't read?
I reserve judgment on this particular group until I have a chance to research them further. I invite you to judge for yourself by reading what I believe to be the only copy of the so-called “Letter to the Governors" that is currently available on the World Wide Web. Remember, this is a transcript made from an audio recording.
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The Sovereign People of the United States of America
De Jour Grand Juries of the American Republics held in original jurisdiction on the land of the United States of America convened March 24, 2010
Confidential dispatch for the Governor’s eyes-only
With great pleasure, the De Jour Grand Juries of the 53 American Republics, in comity with the well-regulated Guardians of the Free Republics, duly assembled in all 50 jurisdictions, have the honor of making your acquaintance, and issuing the attached warrant for the arrest of your bond. We have notified the Depository Trust Company where each of these public official’s bonds is being held on deposit and the Government SeSecurities Division of the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, a division of the
Wednesday, April 07, 2010 11:08:36 AM
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Mo Trapper (trapperbr549) wrote:
I read their website and they sure sound like nut cases to me. It didn't sound violent but who knows.
Of course NPR couldn't help but to throw this into the article, "Several members of Congress received threats or had offices damaged in the wake of passage of the health care law last month."
Has anything new come of this? The last thing I read was that the only arrest was from an Obama supporter who shot a Jewish politicians office. It is also funny how the whole "tea partiers spitting and calling blacks names" story went away after it was shown over and over that it never happened.
Monday, April 05, 2010 12:09:07 PM
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James Wescott (Wescott) wrote:
cg,
Ha Ha, Adam told you by posting a link.
Just because you don't read techno stuff, don't accuse others of not knowing what they are talking about.
Sunday, April 04, 2010 3:08:53 AM
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yuan sun (ysun) wrote:
marjorie,
i'm certain my chances of being a crime victim is the same as a airplane crash. i don't fritter away my savings on weapons and huddled in fear of the world.
death will come for us all but i will have lived a full life.
Sunday, April 04, 2010 1:37:35 AM
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Marjorie Caresalot (Constitution_Lover) wrote:
Ysun wrote; "since pro gun feels that guns don't kill people and our constitution safeguards personal liberty, the only solution is to restrict guns from nutballs carrying out threats."
Remarkably stupid comment, if you remove guns from the law abiding, only the criminal element will have them. Hope you're never caught waiting for a cop to come and save you and your family from a gun toting nutcase who just crashed into your home.
Saturday, April 03, 2010 7:32:15 PM
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Jeff Skocelas (Reason2Live) wrote:
Which flavor is this group: pennyroyal? earl grey? orange pekoe? I suspect its constant comment, obviously steeped to the point of stench.
Saturday, April 03, 2010 7:30:00 PM
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Stella Luna (newsaholic) wrote:
I wonder if these people have any idea how ridiculous and unbalanced they appear? Probably not.
Saturday, April 03, 2010 4:33:21 PM
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Charles Schopen (Shakedown) wrote:
Stupid is, as stupid does, my mama always said.
Saturday, April 03, 2010 3:01:17 PM
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