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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Impasse With ‘Freemen’ Labeled Volatile Situation

Bob Anez Associated Press

The continuing standoff between law enforcement and anti-government “freemen” in the Jordan area is a time bomb that authorities should take steps to defuse without violence, Militia of Montana leader John Trochmann said Saturday.

“We think there’s a problem brewing there,” he told reporters at the Montana Associated Press Broadcasters Association annual meeting. “I think it’s a very volatile situation.”

Trochmann’s comments referred to freemen Rodney Skurdal and LeRoy Schweitzer who are charged with advocating violence to achieve political ends. They are holed up in the home of another freeman outside Jordan. Lawmen have hesitated to try arresting the men for fear of a violent confrontation.

Trochmann said Assistant Attorney General John Connor Jr., asked him in May to try to set up a meeting where both sides could negotiate a peaceful surrender of the freemen.

Although no such meeting occurred, Trochmann said he believes the impasse can be resolved. He suggested one option would be for authorities to cut off electricity and telephone service to the freemen’s homes and “play the waiting game.”

“There’s so many ways to deescalate it and make it go away,” he said.

Trochmann said he also has encouraged Connor and Garfield County Attorney Nick Murnion to use restraint in handling the freemen. “I’m trying to get public officials not to get too harsh yet,” he said.

Trochmann said his organization differs from the freemen because Militia of Montana members do not contend such government functions as taxation and licensing are unconstitutional.

On another issues, Trochmann said his organization sees many problems in the country but does not advocate violence to bring about change.

“We’re not trying to take over anything,” he said. “We’re just trying to show America what is going on. We believe in changing the system with the people, not against the people.”

Among his beliefs are that the United Nations is leading a clandestine coup to take over the world’s political structure, including control of the weather and creating widespread famine by trucking food supplies to underground bunkers.

As he did in Billings earlier this month, Trochmann denied allegations by the Montana Human Rights Network that he is a racist or anti-Semitic.

“I’m not for harming anyone,” he said. “Any race has as much right as any other race. I’m for the protection of all people’s rights.”

Asked if he believes the Nazis killed millions of Jews in an attempt to eradicate the race, Trochmann said he did not know if historical accounts of the Holocaust are accurate.

“I’m not privy to all that information,” he said. “I haven’t studied it.”

But, he suggested, the Jews may have contributed to their fate.

“I question why the Jewish people in Germany gave up their guns so easily, so quickly, ” he said. “What would have happened if it had been the other way around and they had chosen to fight?”

Trochmann said his group relies on the news media to get its message to citizens and challenged reporters to study more closely his accusations.

“If we can’t bring matters to the attention of the public, we can’t get anything done,” he said.

However, several reporters complained that many of Trochmann’s claims of a global conspiracy lack the proof necessary to make them credible.

“Much of it is hearsay and we have to take your word for it,” said Dennis Carlson of K26-TV of Bozeman. “When it comes to journalism, that just doesn’t cut it.”

Art Carlson, news director at KTVM-TV in Bozeman, agreed. “Your information is so outrageous that we are predisposed not to believe it,” he said.

In another presentation at the AP meeting, an aide to Gov. Marc Racicot complimented state reporters on an “absolutely first-rate” job of covering the execution this spring of killer Duncan McKenzie Jr.

Andrew Malcolm, Racicot’s communications director, said state officials had concerns about coverage of Montana’s first execution in more than 50 years. But, he said, “Overall, coverage of this very emotional issue was overwhelmingly very professional.”