A federal intelligence note is warning police that an anti-government group’s call to remove dozens of sitting governors may encourage others to act out violently.
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm received a letter March 29 from the group that calls itself the Guardians of the Free Republics, Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd acknowledged Friday.
The group has a plan to “restore America” by peacefully dismantling parts of the government, according to its Web site.
As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received letters demanding they leave office within three days or they will be removed, according to an internal intelligence note by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, which was obtained by The Associated Press.
Nutritional sciences sophomore Ellen Mitchell said she didn’t understand how or why the group could get the governors to resign.
“I think that it is ridiculous,” Mitchell said.
Investigators do not see threats of violence in the group’s message but fear the broad call for removing top state officials could inspire others to act out violently.
Mitchell said she doesn’t think the letters will spur violent acts.
“Most people would see it as ridiculous that some group is trying to get rid of all the governors,” Mitchell said.
The FBI expects all 50 governors eventually will receive such letters.
Other governors whose offices reported receiving the letters included Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Chet Culver of Iowa, Dave Heineman of Nebraska, Jim Gibbons of Nevada and Gary Herbert of Utah, where officials stepped up security in response to the letter.
In Nevada, screening machines for visitors and packages were added to the main entrance to the state Capitol as a precaution after Gibbons received one of the letters.
“We’re not really overly concerned, but at the same time we don’t want to sit back and do nothing and regret it,” Gibbons’ Deputy Chief of Staff Lynn Hettrick said.
Boyd said federal investigators had alerted the Michigan State Police last week about the correspondence.
“We had been advised that such a letter might be on its way,” Boyd said. “Once it was received, it was handed over to Michigan State Police, which is responsible for the governor’s security.”
She said the governor’s office never discusses security measures or changes.
Michigan State Police spokeswoman Melody Kindraka declined to comment this morning on the group or the letter to Granholm. The matter is under investigation by state and federal authorities, she said, but declined to speculate on what potential crime might have been involved.
Kindraka said she did not know if the Guardians of the Free Republics has adherents in Michigan.
Jindal’s office confirmed the governor had received a letter and directed all further questions to the Louisiana State Police.
Lt. Doug Cain, a Louisiana state police spokesman, said the letter from the Guardians of the Free Republics arrived at the governor’s office and the state police were called.
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“They called us as they do for any letter that’s out of the norm,” Cain said.
He declined to provide specifics about the letter, but said, “I can’t say if it was threatening, but I can say that not knowing the group and the information contained in the letter warranted state police to review it.”
Family community services sophomore Kathryn Reagan said because of the letter’s ambiguity, authorities should approach the situation with a “worst case scenario” mentality.
“They should assume the worst so they can react if things do get bad,” Reagan said. “They shouldn’t do anything intense yet, but if people are going crazy they should react as severe as they can.”
