FBI Probes Possible Obama Death Threat

3 Men, 1 Woman Arrested On Drugs, Weapons Charges; Official Says "No Credible Threat" To Obama, Convention

(CBS/AP)  The FBI is looking into reports in Denver media outlets that a man under investigation for drug and weapons violations may have made threats against Barack Obama, officials said Monday.

"It's premature to say that it was a valid threat or that these folks have the ability to carry it out," said a U.S. government official familiar with the investigation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Law enforcement sources told CBS station KCNC-TV in Denver that one of the suspects "was directly asked if they had come to Denver to kill Obama. He responded in the affirmative."

One of the suspects told authorities they were "going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a ... rifle ... sighted at 750 yards," reported KCNC.

Overnight, U.S. Attorney Troy Eid said in a prepared statement that the case was under investigation, but that he was "absolutely confident there is no credible threat to the candidate, the Democratic National Convention, or the people of Colorado."

Obama will be in Denver this week to accept the Democratic nomination for president.

FBI spokeswoman Kathy Wright confirmed the FBI was investigating the reports but declined to elaborate. The Joint Information Center - a command set up by Denver, state and federal authorities to field media inquiries during the Democratic convention - had no immediate comment.

Aurora Police Detective Marcus Dudley said that 28-year-old Tharin Robert Gartrell was arrested early Sunday in a routine traffic stop in the Denver suburb of Aurora. He is being investigated for possible methamphetamine and firearms violations, officials said.

Subsequently, KCNC reports, authorities went to the Cherry Creek Hotel to contact an associate of Gartrell's, 33-year-old Shawn Robert Adolf.

Adolf, who police said was wanted on numerous warrants, jumped out of a sixth floor window of the Denver area hotel. Law enforcement sources said he broke an ankle in the fall and was captured moments later. Those sources say he was wearing a ring with a swastika, and is thought to have ties to white supremacist organizations.

A third man - an associate of Gartrell and Adolf was also arrested. Nathan Johnson, 32, also taken into custody at a hotel in suburban Denver, told authorities that the other two men "planned to kill Barack Obama at his acceptance speech."

Johnson, along with his girlfriend, Natasha Gromek, were also under arrest on drug charges.

Law enforcement in Denver was trying to find out whether the reported threats to Obama were valid. "It could also turn out that these were nothing but a bunch of knuckleheads, meth heads," the U.S. government official said.

Gartrell was being held at the Arapahoe County jail on $50,000 bail on a felony charge of special offender, drug violations. The jail said he did not have a lawyer yet but was due in court Thursday.

U.S. Attorney Troy Eid said in a statement that federal charges were anticipated. Eid did not elaborate, but officials with the FBI; Secret Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Aurora police set a news conference for Tuesday afternoon.

[woodyiv1]

Can you imagine the media fervor if the target of these folks was John McCain, and their grandparents were of middle eastern decent?

What a fair and balanced MSM we have.

[bretster7]

BTW Jack, love the name... it reflects perfectly to your intellect... LOL

[magoo2u1]

"It is also good to know that not one republican woman, not a single one, has ever had an abortion."

You crack me up. They probably make up the majority of the clients at the clinic. Look up "Hipocrite".

[jackmayoff2]

yep they look like republican terrorist

[msay3]

What a couple of losers !!!

[element51]

JonGood54...From the passion in your comments I assume that you are raising several un-wanted children. How many would that be Jon? It is also good to know that not one republican woman, not a single one, has ever had an abortion.

[forevertru-2009]

Obama Runs A Campaign of Intimidation that America Will Not Give Into.....you''ll see.

[trrrorislam3]

BOO HOO BIDEN,,, lol

hahaha

VIDEO: BIDEN CRIES...
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5658898

[dasfarg]

Do you think McCain will attract MORE of Hillary supporters if he chooses a female VP especially since Obama has not been able to reach Hillary%u2019s 80% of the forgotten people?

Inside sources say Obama''s recent plane trouble was an orchestrated publicity fraud to gain public sympathy and take away attention from his pattern of distracting and polarizing the public with playing the race card and the rich against poor card. Apparently Obama is full of them!!!!! This may be another one of them....

[minnick8-2009]

i cant wait for you right wingers to elect old mccfart into office. kiss your country . . .

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Posted by rdp842003

When I read a post as this one by rdp842003, I think it is so interesting how it could be turned right around to the left:

I cant wait for you left wingers to elect HObama into office. Kiss your country and your stupid liberal azzz goodbye. This country will fall apart, your homes will be reposesed, you will pay 10 dollars a gallon at the gas pump, and get taxed to death because you are too stubborn and stuck in your ways. If you have a half of a brain and care about this country, you would vote McCain, but the problem is you morons are too lazy to look up the facts and when you are confronted with the truth you just simply ignore it and continue to believe whatever you want to believe. You will have nobody but yourselves to blame when this country comes to ruins in the next 4 years.

Add to that. Obama is running on the old and dredged up slogan of "Change," which was the slogan of Jimmy Carter. Carter was run out after four years and nothing changed. I can see that happening if Obama is elected.

Sorry, in the post below, the second Posted by rdp842003 should NOT be there. I apologize.

[minnick8-2009]

i cant wait for you right wingers to elect old mccfart into office. kiss your country . . .

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Posted by rdp842003

When I read a post as this one by rdp842003, I think it is so interesting how it could be turned right around to the left:

I cant wait for you left wingers to elect HObama into office. Kiss your country and your stupid liberal azzz goodbye. This country will fall apart, your homes will be reposesed, you will pay 10 dollars a gallon at the gas pump, and get taxed to death because you are too stubborn and stuck in your ways. If you have a half of a brain and care about this country, you would vote McCain, but the problem is you morons are too lazy to look up the facts and when you are confronted with the truth you just simply ignore it and continue to believe whatever you want to believe. You will have nobody but yourselves to blame when this country comes to ruins in the next 4 years.

Add to that. Obama is running on the old and dredged up slogan of "Change," which was the slogan of Jimmy Carter. Carter was run out after four years and nothing changed. I can see that happening if Obama is elected.


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Posted by rdp842003

[wdrussell1]

These people would only be a threat if they reproduced.
Sorry about calling them people.

[texascitizen]

Where is the outrage? US citizens...with alleged ties to a terrorist group...were caught with weapons...intended to kill an elected official! We know where these Supremicist meet...we know they espouse hateful ideologies that incite oppression. Arrest them all...interogate them until they give up information leading to their other terrorist networks...In fact, why don''t we send them to dentention facilities outside the US so we can REALLY get the information we are looking for? Known terrorist reside in our midst and will we do nothing to capture them? $50,000 bail! I wonder if anybody in Guantanamo Bay has been offered BAIL for "allegedy committing a plot against an elected official"!!!

[jamesetling]

Might have been entertaining if these goofballs had been allowed to get closer to making their move. Could have been a video of the security people gunning down these idiots. I don''t believe these guys could even clean a rifle. But now they have had their day in the sun.

[trrrorislam3]

HEY HUSSEIN,,,

WHO WOULD YOU PARDON ON YOUR LAST DAY IN OFFICE???

[natty1125]

SHAME ON CBS MORNING SHOW!!! Shame on CBS news for the interview this morning with one of the bozos from a Colorado prison allegedly charged with trying to kill Obama. We give credence to this type of behavior by turning on a microphone and putting a camera in their face. In the end, they define themselves as famous and in one sense, it''s true. %u201CHey Ma- - look at me! I%u2019m on TV!%u201D Shame on you again CBS news. I just hope no other idiot looks for an opportunity to be on your newscast for the same reason!!! I''m truly embarrassed for you!

[trrrorislam3]

HEY HUSSEIN,,, SUPPORT SENATE RESOLUTION 636

Vets for Freedom

Senate Resolution 636
a bi-partisan resolution in the United State Senate sponsored by Senators Lieberman and Graham.
http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/

Remember Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervaMPt4Ha0

Honor Our Troops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmD70dzj-VY

[whatithink-2009]

truthmatterz,

Christian Conservatives have no concern about people living in squalor or dying of starvation. That''s too bleeding heart for them. But, take away a rich guy''s third yacht, now that''s against their interpretation of Jesus''s teachings.

[dnsallday]

Mexicans pay billions every year in Social Security taxes and income taxes deducted from their paychecks. None of it they ever receive back.

That is why the U.S. Government will never give anymore than lip service to immigration reform. If the billions in SS tax was from U.S. citizens the Government would have to be responsible to eventually give it back to them.

That is why the elected officials are at least as much to blame as the the people who are here illegally. They quietly encourage them to come here so provide cheap labor for the corporations, so how can you blame them?

[dnsallday]

Offshore tax havens have declared economic war on honest taxpayers by helping tax cheats hide income and assets that should be taxed in the same way as other Americans" are taxed

wealthy American individuals had $1.6 trillion in offshore assets that they used to illegally evade between $40 billion and $70 billion a year in taxes. U.S. corporations evade about $30 billion a year in taxes through these shelters, it said, citing an IRS study.

"It is simply unacceptable that some individuals are using offshore tax havens and secrecy jurisdictions to shelter trillions of dollars in assets from taxation," Coleman said. "We are introducing this bill to close these loopholes, shut down offshore tax schemes and ensure that every American pays their fair share of taxes."