Two arrested in plot to kill Obama and others

Federal authorities in Tennessee announced on Monday that they had arrested two alleged white supremacists who reportedly were planning a killing spree that would end with the assassination of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman, 18, of West Helena, Ark., were charged in US District Court in Jackson, Tenn., with the illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun, conspiracy to rob a gun store and making threats against a major presidential candidate -- the senator from Illinois. “They said that would be their last, final act -- that they would attempt to kill Sen. Obama,” said James Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of the Nashville Field Division of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “They didn’t believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying.”

Brian A. Weaks, an ATF special agent and a lead investigator in the case, said in a court affidavit unsealed on Monday that the two men had hoped to carry out the assassination by driving their vehicle at top speed and firing high-powered rifles at Obama from their car windows. “Both individuals stated that they would dress in all-white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt,” Weaks said. “Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt.” The two men also allegedly discussed shooting 88 other people to death and decapitating 14 black people, choosing those numbers because, officials said, “they have special significance within the White Power movement.”