Two men from the Bay have been charged with scheming to blow up the Democratic Party headquarters.
On Thursday, federal prosecutors said Ian Benjamin Rogers and Jarrod Copeland plotted to launch bombings on political buildings. According to authorities, the men planned out their terrorism through messaging applications, NBC Bay Area reports.
“I want to blow up a democrat building bad,” Rogers of Napa wrote, according to the indictment that was released on Thursday. Copeland of Vallejo responded, “I agree,” and added, “Plan attack.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement that the two men were planning attacks against Democratic politicians they connected to Joe Biden’s presidential win. The first on their target list was the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento.
“According to the indictment, the defendants planned to use incendiary devices to attack their targets and hoped their attacks would prompt a movement,” the statement said. According to prosecutors, on Jan. 15, police raided their homes, seizing 45 to 50 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and five pipe bombs from Rogers’ home.
Rogers and Copeland are both looking at multiple charges, including conspiracy to destroy by fire or explosive a building used or affecting interstate commerce. They could serve a maximum of 20 years in prison.
