A U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant working in Washington D.C. reportedly lived a secret life as a “domestic terrorist” according to NBC News.
Christopher Paul Hasson, who was arrested February 15 on drug and gun charges, allegedly planned to commit mass murder and compiled a hit list of prominent politicians and journalists. According to prosecutors, Hasson planned to “murder innocent civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country.”
For two years, Hasson “conducted online searches and made thousands of visits for pro-Russian, neo-fascist, and neo-Nazi literature,” court papers read.
“I am dreaming of a way to kill almost every last person on the earth,” a draft email found on his computer read. “I think a plague would be most successful but how do I acquire the needed/ Spanish flu, botulism, anthrax not sure yet but will find something.”
In another draft letter, Hasson declares that he is a “long time White Nationalist, having been a skinhead 30 plus years ago before my time in the military.”
Hasson was exposed when the Coast Guard discovered his internet searches, which were conducted while he was at work.
When his home in Silver Spring, Maryland was searched, authorities found 15 firearms and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
From NBC News:
They say he searched the web for MSNBC host Joe Scarborough, and “compiled a list of prominent Democratic Congressional leaders, activists, political organizations, and MSNBC and CNN media personalities.”
Prosecutors say the list included designations they believe referred to Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Tim Kaine, Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; and House Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Maxine Waters, Ilhan Omar and Sheila Jackson. Also on it was former Rep. Beto O’Rourke and former Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta.
Media figures on the list included Scarborough, MSNBC hosts Chris Hayes and Ari Melber, and CNN’s Don Lemon, Chris Cuomo and Van Jones.
Court papers say that some of Hasson’s internet searches included topics such as, “what if trump illegally impeached,” “best place in dc to see congress people,” and “civil war if trump impeached.”
According to the detention memo, Hasson “is a domestic terrorist, bent on committing acts dangerous to human life that are intended to affect governmental conduct.”
Featured image via Maryland District Attorney’s Office
