Skinheads Arrested for Plotting to Assassinate Obama

This undated photo obtained from a MySpace webpage shows Daniel Cowart of Bells, Tenn., one of the two men charged with plotting to kill Barack Obama and others. (AP Photo)

Paul Schlessman (Photo: news.lalate.com)

Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman, 18, of West Helana, Ark., were charged in U.S. District Court in Nashville with illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun, conspiracy to rob a gun store and making threats against a major presidential candidate.

An affidavit by Brian A. Weeks, a special agent with the Justice Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, was unsealed Monday, disclosing details of the disrupted murder scheme that included targeting Black school children. A copy of the affidavit is posted on the Web site, smokinggun.com.

“Approximately 1 month ago Cowart and Schlesselman met via the internet through a mutual friend,” the agent stated. “Each individual claims to have very strong beliefs and views regarding ‘White Power’ and ‘Skinhead’ views. The individuals began discussing going on a ‘killing spree’ that included killing 88 people and beheading 14 African Americans.”

The numbers 88 Blacks and 14 have significance in the White supremacy movement, authorities explained. The eighth letter of the alphabet is “H,” and the number used twice signifies “HH,” shorthand for the Nazi greeting, “Heil Hitler.” And 14 represents the number of words in the White Power slogan, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for White children.”

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The pair planned to finance their killing spree by burglarizing homes; they expected to obtain additional weapons by robbing federally-licensed gun dealers.

According to Special Agent Weaks’ affidavit, “Cowart and Schlesselman further stated that on October 20, 2008, Cowart traveled from Tennessee to Arkansas, to pick up Schlesselman and bring Schlesselman to Tennessee to carry out the aforementioned acts. Schelesselman also brought the short barreled shotgun and a Ruger GP100 .357 revolver he said he had taken from his father without permission. Schlesselman also brought ammunition to carry out the robberies and the killing spree. Cowart also stated that he had stock piled an FASI .308 caliber rifle that he purchased, a High Standard .22 caliber handgun and a Colt .25 caliber handgun both of which Cowart stated were stolen from his grandfather. All of these firearms were recovered during the course of the investigation.

"Upon arriving in Tennessee Cowart and Schlesselman further discussed the killing spree to include targeting a predominantly African-American school, going state to state while robbing individuals and continuing to kill people. They further stated that their final act of violence would be to attempt to kill/assassinate Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. Cowart stated that they planned to use his FASI .308 caliber rifle and a high powered rifle that was to be stolen from the aforementioned FFL [Federal Firearms Licensee] to facilitate their attempt to assassinate Obama. Schesselman stated that they planned to drive their vehicle as fast as they could toward Obama shooting at him from the windows. Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt. Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt.”

“Cowart and Schlesselman further discussed the killing spree to include targeting a predominantly African-American school.”

The two White supremacists told authorities that while driving around one morning, they shot out a window at Beech Grove Church of Christ, a Black church in Brownsville, Tenn.

Scrawled on Cowart’s car were a Swastika, the numbers 14 and 88 as well as some racist language.

Both men were arrested last Wednesday in Crockett County and made their first appearance in federal court on Monday in Memphis. A hearing will be held Thursday to determine whether bond should be set.