Two California men are charged with Molotov cocktails plot to blow up Sacramento Democratic HQ and the California Governor's Mansion in a bid to 'go to war' and overturn Trump's 2020 loss
Two California men have been charged with plotting to blow up the Democratic Party's headquarters in Sacramento in a bid to overthrow the government following Trump's 2020 election loss.
Ian Benjamin Rogers, 45, and Jarrod Copeland, 37, both of the Bay Area, each face multiple charges. They are accused of planning to use explosives in multiple attacks they hoped would spark a movement to overthrow the government.
The federal indictment, unsealed Thursday, says the men allegedly threatened to go to 'war' after Trump lost the 2020 election, the Associated Press reported.
Rogers and Copeland used different messaging apps after the election to plan attacks on targets they associated with Democrats and they attempted to gain support from an anti-government militia group, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.
Rogers is accused of using an encrypted messaging app to tell Copeland that he would use Molotov cocktails and gasoline to attack Democratic targets, including the Governor’s Mansion and the Democratic headquarters in Sacramento, gooddaysacramento.com reported.
Bombing of the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento was meant to be the first in a series of politically motivated attacks, prosecutors said.
In January, law enforcement officers raided Rogers' home and seized a cache of weapons, including 45 to 50 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five pipe bombs
Their bombing of the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento was meant to be the first in a series of politically motivated attacks
Pipe bombs, ballistic masks, guns and thousands of bullets are just a few of the things FBI officials say they confiscated from suspected Napa extremist Ian Rogers
Rogers and Copeland are accused of using messaging apps to discuss targeting Democratic buildings
Authorities raided Rogers' home and seized a cache of weapons, including 45 to 50 firearms
Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party, called the apparent scheme 'extremely disturbing.'
'We are relieved to know the plot was unsuccessful, the individuals believed to be responsible are in custody, and our staff and volunteers are safe and sound,' Hicks said in a statement. 'Yet, it points to a broader issue of violent extremism that is far too common in today's political discourse.'
In January, law enforcement officers raided Rogers' home and seized a cache of weapons, including 45 to 50 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five pipe bombs, prosecutors said.
Authorities say Rogers was also in possession of a 'White Privilege Card,' which referenced Trump numerous times.
The card says 'Trumps Everything' and has the number of '0045' repeated four times like a credit card number, a nod to Trump being the 45th president.
It lists the cardholder as being a member since birth and until death.
Copeland is accused of attempting to destroy evidence of the plan after Rogers' January arrest. Copeland was arrested Wednesday.
The two men texted about their plans.
'I want to blow up a democrat building bad,' Rogers told Copeland, according to the indictment unsealed Thursday in San Francisco federal court.
Copeland responded, 'I agree' and 'Plan attack,' the indictment says.
Rogers (pictured) and Copeland used multiple messaging apps after the election to plan attacks on targets they associated with Democrats and they attempted to gain support from an anti-government militia group
Authorities say Rogers (pictured) was also in possession of a 'White Privilege Card,' which referenced Trump numerous times
Rogers also had a 'White Privilege Card,' which referenced former President Trump numerous times
In late December 2020, Copeland told Rogers he contacted an anti-government militia group to gather support for their movement. In one exchange, Rogers texted Copeland: 'after the 20th we go to war,' which meant they would initiate acts of violence after President Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021, the court papers say.
Rogers and Copeland each face multiple charges including conspiracy to destroy by fire or explosive a building used or in affecting interstate commerce, prosecutors said.
Rogers was charged with possession of unregistered destructive devices, and three counts of possession of machine guns while Copeland is charged with an additional count of destruction of records.
Copeland is scheduled to appear in court again July 20 for a detention hearing. According to prosecutors, Copeland was in the military in 2013 then arrested for desertion; he had an "other than honorable" discharge in 2016.
Rogers, who owns British Auto Repairs in Napa Valley and has been in custody since his arrest in January, is scheduled to appear in court July 30 for a status conference.
If convicted on all charges, each defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, officials said.
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