PIML 96050301 / Posted to Patriot Information Mailing List: [Bo Gritz has given up on trying to negotiate with the Freemen. The FBI seems to be running out of patience and the Freemen reportedly think they are protected from the FBI by an "invisible shield". Let us all pray that this standoff can be concluded without bloodshed.] Date: Fri, 3 May 96 05:44 EDT To: patriots@kaiwan.com From: Max Kennedy Subject: Freemen Update M03 By MATT BENDER Of The Gazette Staff JORDAN - The Freemen abandoned negotiations with the FBI and began communicating with the media with a video and a pair of press releases Thursday. On two occasions, Freemen came to the edge of the property they have isolated themselves on northwest of Jordan and left releases explaining themselves for the media. The first was a videotape accompanied by photocopied pages explaining their position; the second was a copy of a letter from the FBI proposing a meeting Saturday with negotiators. The meeting apparently was refused by the Freemen. Both times, a Freemen representative waved for reporters to come to the barricade they have erected on the west road leading into the property. The Freemen didn't stay to talk to reporters. The videotape was released to the media with a 13-page document addressed "To the Press" that instructed media members to share the tape among themselves. "This tape yours, the media's, private property presented by the `freemen characters' by simple contract rights protected by both national and state constitutions," the document states. "The State of Montana nor the Fed's have any lawful authority to trespass on this private contract in Law." The FBI confiscated, and has refused to release, a similar tape brought out of the compound by third-party negotiator James "Bo" Gritz on Sunday. Television reporters were able to keep the new tape and make copies of it before the FBI could take it Thursday. On the tape, a lone Freeman, Russell D. Landers, 44, stands before the seal of the so-called "Justus Township" and explains why the Freemen are the true interpreters on the law. The repetitive message goes on for about 45 minutes. Landers, wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution on federal charges of conspiracy and securities fraud out of Colorado, wears a cowboy hat and loud Western shirt as he expounds on the tape. Landers was indicted in January 1995 in Colorado for his alleged involvement in a scam by the We the People group led by Roy Schwasinger. Landers explains that the Freemen are actually pro-government and it's the federal government that is abusing the law. The Freemen don't recognize much of the federal government's authority, and several of the 21 people holed up near Jordan are wanted on state and federal charges. The message on the video is much like the statements the Freemen have preached over the last few years. Landers claims the FBI is not allowing the people of Justus Township to tell the truth. The truth, according to the Freemen ideology, is that the FBI is not constitutionally part of the government. The FBI is illegally in Montana, and agents kidnapped sovereign characters LeRoy Michael Schweitzer and Daniel E. Petersen when the men were arrested March 25 to start the standoff, Landers said. Landers said a difference in wording is key to understanding the movement. The United States is a corporation, while the United States of America is a republic, he said. The state of Montana is also a corporation and "Montana state" is considered a republic by the Freemen. The Montana Bar Association, Internal Revenue Service, Garfield County, Department of Justice, state of Montana, United States, among other government powers and agencies, are all corporations that aren't registered as such in Montana. Therefore, their authority is not recognized by the Freemen in their interpretation of common law, Landers said. In the video, Landers recounts in detail the Freemen's investigations of recognized government authority. Often saying "What do you think we found out? ... You guessed it," before explaining how the agencies are not "registered" as corporations. Ten times Landers repeats, "Who are these masked men?" in reference to the FBI agents in Montana attempting to negotiate the arrest and prosecution of the fugitives. Landers challenges authorities and the media to prove them wrong. If the Freemen aren't right, they will surrender, he said. "We're gonna let you be the judge," Landers says. The tape ends with Landers saying "God bless America" and asking the American people for their support. After television crews dubbed the tape, the Freemen came out with a second release. They provided reporters with a copy of a letter from the FBI that indicates negotiations are not going well. The letter is addressed to Freeman Edwin Clark, who is a member of the family that used to own the 960-acre foreclosed wheat farm that is now being called Justus Township. Robin L. Montgomery, FBI special agent in charge of the agency's Critical Incident Response Group, signed the letter asking for a meeting between Clark and negotiators. A meeting is proposed for 1 p.m. Saturday at the nearby Fairview Hall. The hall is about seven miles from the Clark property and would fall outside the invisible protective barrier that the Freemen believe Yahweh (God) has put around their encampment. Clark is asked to select another Freeman and meet with state Assistant Attorney General John Connor Jr. and Karl Ohs, R-Harrison. Connor and Ohs have met with the Freemen to negotiate on several occasions. Connor left Jordan on Wednesday, saying that there was no middle ground found in any of the four meetings he attended and he didn't expect to return unless the Freemen came up with different proposals. Montgomery asked the Freemen to put a green flag on a sign outside the main home on the farm by 6 p.m. Thursday to indicate whether they were coming to the meeting. No flag ever was posted, and from the tone of the letter, the negotiations are at an impasse. Montgomery wrote: "Currently, there have been no indications that progress toward a peaceful resolution is underway. Failure to pursue meaningful dialogue through this meeting will indicate your lack of genuine interest in seeking a peaceful and equitable solution. In this case, the FBI will reserve the right to take whatever action it deems necessary to resolve this matter." The handwritten messages on the photocopies of the letter indicate that the Freemen have no plans to go to Saturday's meeting. They stamped "REFUSAL FOR CAUSE WITHOUT DISHONOR" on the letter and dated it May 2. In addition, the Freemen wrote, "The FBI does not exist as a government agency," and made reference to the Freemen belief that the FBI has no venue and no jurisdiction because it is unlawfully in Montana. Late Thursday afternoon, FBI agents came to the hill where media members have positioned themselves and asked for copies of the releases made by the Freemen. They were given a tape and copies of the documents. ------------------------------------------------------------------ To: patriots@kaiwan.com From: Max Kennedy Subject: Re: Montana Constitution (1972), Article II, Section 33 >From: Mike Goldman >Sender: mike@pobox.com On Fri, 3 May 96 00:42 EDT Max Kennedy wrote: > Montana Constitution (1972), Article II, Section 33 >> >Sec. 33. No armed person or persons or armed body of men shall be >> > brought into this state for the preservation of the peace, >> > or the suppression of domestic violence, except upon the >> > application of the legislature, or of the governor when the >> > legislature cannot be convened. >> >> Also in the United States Constitution, Article 4 Section 4 For those who don't have it handy: Section. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence. See http://pobox.com/~whig/Constitution.html for the canonical text. Specifically, though, the cited section of the Montana Constitution is what makes plainly illegal the FBI presence at the Freemen compound. * Patriot Information Mailing List * A service to help inform those who have an active interest in * returning our federal and state governments to limited, * constitutional government * Send messages for consideration and possible posting to * butterb@sagenet.net (Bill Utterback). * To subscribe or unsubscribe, send messaointed osubject line * "subscribe patriot" or "unsubscribe patriot" * Forwarded messages sent on this mailing list are NOT verified. * See World's Smallest Political Quiz: www.self-gov.org/quiz.html * Libertarian is to LIBERTY as librarian is to library (DePena) * PIML grants permission to copy and repost this message * in its entirety with headers and trailers left intact.