Feds: California Men Discussed Terrorist Attacks on Twitter and Facebook, Other Targets
The accused apparently planned to target sites with explosives.
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Photo: JOSH EDELSON/AFP (Getty Images)
Two California men have been indicted in connection with an apparent plot to attack the state’s Democratic Party headquarters, located in Sacramento, the Justice Department said Friday. The men also discussed attacks at other locations throughout the state that they “associated with Democrats,” including the headquarters of both Facebook and Twitter, as well as the governor’s mansion, among other targets.
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Ian Benjamin Rogers, 45, of Napa and Jarrod Copeland, 37, of Vallejo, have been arrested in connection with the apparent plots and are now facing a bevy of federal charges, recently unsealed court documents show.
Don Thompson
The John L. Burton California Democratic Party Headquarters is seen in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, July 16, 2021. Two California men have been charged with plotting to blow up the Democratic Party s headquarters, a bombing they hoped would be the first in a series of politically-motivated attacks, federal prosecutors said, Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) July 16, 2021 - 5:12 PM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) â Ian Benjamin Rogers had five illegal pipe bombs and nearly 50 weapons at his home and shop in Californiaâs wine country, a âThreePercentersâ bumper sticker on his vehicle, a âwhite privilege cardâ at his house, and text messages that led federal prosecutors to charge him with conspiring to firebomb the state Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento.
A federal court in San Francisco has unsealed an indictment charging two California men in a plot to attack the Democratic Party’s headquarters in the state capital.
Ian Benjamin Rogers, 45, of Napa, and Jarrod Copeland, 37, of Vallejo, are charged with conspiracy to destroy a building affecting interstate commerce, among other crimes, according to the indictment from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
The men began planning to attack targets they associated with Democrats after the 2020 Presidential election and sought support from an anti-government militia group, according to a press release from the office.