Spokane7
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April 7, 2010 in City
Feds investigating IED found at downtown courthouse
Authorities didn’t alert public after discovery 10 days ago
At a time of heightened concerns over threats to government officials, federal authorities in Spokane kept quiet about the discovery of a bomb found alongside the Thomas S. Foley U.S. Courthouse last week.
They acknowledged the investigation Wednesday, however, after the latest edition of Newsweek magazine disclosed the March 28 discovery as part of an article examining increasing anti-government threats and violence spreading across the nation.
U.S. Attorney Jim McDevitt defended the decision to try keeping the case under wraps.
“It’s an ongoing criminal investigation,” McDevitt said. “Basically, that’s all we can say.”
The device was located late in the evening on a Sunday, said Tom Rice, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington. Rice wouldn’t describe the device, where it was found or whether federal agents have identified any suspects.
“I will be guarded in what I say. We would confirm that a device was located. But that’s as far as we are going to go,” Rice said. “The appropriate people in the courthouse were notified …. we didn’t want to compromise the active investigation.”
McDevitt, who was attending a conference Wednesday in California, said federal authorities were not compelled to inform neighboring businesses about the discovery.
“I’m not sure if members of the public or people in neighboring buildings were in danger,” he said. “I’m not an expert but … the device was not something that, from my standpoint, would have done any harm except to the immediate area … the area within feet.”
Although no one has suggested a direct link, the bomb was planted during a wave of threats against politicians and other government officials that some believe was triggered by outrage over passage of the recent health care reforms.
On Wednesday, for example, the FBI arrested a northern California man on allegations that he made threatening phone calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. Charges against the man have yet to be disclosed, but they are expected to be filed in federal court in California.
On Tuesday, authorities announced charges against a 64-year-old Yakima-area man accused of making threatening calls to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Charges also have been filed against a Philadelphia man who allegedly made a YouTube video threatening U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va.
Spokane is no stranger to anti-government threats and violence.
A pipe bomb packed with nails and screws exploded outside Spokane City Hall on April 29, 1996. There were no injuries, but the blast blew out a window in one of the doors at the Post Street entrance and sent shrapnel flying into Riverfront Park. Authorities called the bomb fairly sophisticated, with a timer and electronic ignition.
Federal prosecutors later indicted white supremacists Chevie Kehoe, of Colville, Wash., and Danny Lee, of Yukon, Okla., for the bombing. Both were also later convicted in the 1996 murders of an Arkansas gun dealer, his wife and her 8-year-old daughter. Kehoe, the alleged mastermind, was sentenced to life in prison, while Lee was given a death sentence.
Also in April 1996, a pipe bomb exploded at the Valley office of The Spokesman-Review shortly before a nearby bank was robbed and bombed. A Planned Parenthood office was bombed in July 1996 shortly before the bank was robbed for a second time. No one was injured in either blast.
Verne Merrell, Robert S. Berry and Charles Barbee were arrested in October 1996 near Yakima. Prosecutors said they were traveling from their hometown of Sandpoint to Portland to rob another bank. The fourth defendant, Brian Ratigan, was arrested later and tried separately.
All four were convicted of armed bank robbery, bombings and conspiracy, and Merrell, Berry and Barbee were convicted of additional weapons charges. Those three were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Couple acquitted of caging 2 boys 
Another_Perspective on April 07 at 10:38 a.m.
“The public wasn’t notified “because we didn’t want to compromise the active investigation.””
Politik speak for. “Our telescopic spy camera dudes were too busy perving the windows next door” instead of watching the building.
So if Rice cant tell us (the public) much information, why does he even have a job?
and when will they be able to tell us?
and how did the S-R get a lead on this?
I noticed while going throught the security gauntlet to sit in on the Pete vs City of Spokane hearing that there were a whole lot of people being allowed to walk around the security checkpoint. I dont care who you are, you should be going through it just like everyone else. No acceptions mean “no acceptions”.
truck160cda on April 07 at 10:44 a.m.
Maybe those cameras got moved to catch run light runners and provide some much needed budget $$.
misjustice on April 07 at 11:11 a.m.
Hmmm, nothing like a little homegrown terrorism to make your point; whatever that is…
An IED left at the doorstep of a Federal building = wingnut.
pmoscow on April 07 at 11:14 a.m.
How did the S-R get a lead on this? My guess is from reading the Newsweek that arrived in the mail yesterday. There was mention of it in the article entitled: “The Hutaree Arrests and the New Militia Movement.”
PhiltheBibliophil on April 07 at 11:31 a.m.
Here we go, the McVeigh Crazies coming out of the woodwork. And damn my office is right across the street!
BitofBacon on April 07 at 11:34 a.m.
Another_Perspective-I’m just curious, what is an “acception”? Is that something like an exception?
soccermomsusie on April 07 at 11:41 a.m.
Why would someone leave their IUD there? Was it a Pro-Life protest? It is a child not a choice.
misjustice on April 07 at 11:50 a.m.
Ah soccermom, we can always depend on you to add a little levity to the discussion.
It’s IED, improvised explosive device; not IUD inter uterine device… lol! ; )
addyh on April 07 at 11:51 a.m.
It was indeed the current issue of Newsweek that alerted us to the discovery.
spokanecommunistparty on April 07 at 1:03 p.m.
Its probably another Republican Extremist.
dustmyblues on April 07 at 1:06 p.m.
This freakin’ ticks me off. We have a right to know when some wacko is leaving hommeade bombs on our streets. I guess the FEDS were too busy investigating local medical marijuana facilities to let us know. Shame on you, FEDS.
Also, good catch in Newsweek, S-R. Keep the pressure on.
bnblair on April 07 at 1:20 p.m.
They got their lead for this story from the current issue of Newsweek…
WTF!?!?!?!
I thought being a newspaper reporter involved a little more than flipping through the magazines at the dentist’s office.
empyrius on April 07 at 1:20 p.m.
Those republican politicians, or “teabaggers”, or whatever the Beck drones call themselves, are living “Frankenstein: the true story”.
And the difference between a Muslim “extremist” and republican “extremist” is what now? The name of their God and the money they worship? No. Because no nation on this world can buy or sell without the mark of the beast, er …, I mean, that does not use the American dollar as “reserve currency” …: so they basically differ on the name of their God! Har har har har.
Not every right-winger is a terrorist, but every terrorist is a right-winger!
Do your job Feds!
And you evil democrats are next!
Then us Jesusians will inherit the world.
Scripture.
dustmyblues on April 07 at 1:26 p.m.
BNBlair-I know what you are saying, but the FEDS obviously purposely kept the story from coming out to local media. What I want to know is how in the hell Newsweek got hold of it?
ChefGus/ John Olsen on April 07 at 1:44 p.m.
Makes me wonder how many other IED’s have been found at other Federal Sites round the United States over the past few weeks or months? without us being “informed” for our own good…. this militia stuff is an ominous movement… gus
Another_Perspective on April 07 at 2:01 p.m.
Seeing as how it tood the Feds 3 years to charge Otto Zehm’s murderer, this is timely in comparison.
Its about time the Feds investigate our elected non-represented officials for incompetence. Who else put the U.S. in debt to the Chinese? Surely it wasn’t you or me.
I’d take an IED/IUD/BFD or two over Gregoire, Murray, Cantwell, and McMorris.. any day. They have done more (or less) to destroy our country and come November you all had not forgotten this.
bdr on April 07 at 4:06 p.m.
It sure makes Iraq mayhem seem more palatable now having IEDS laying about while we pay our fines.
Maybe another country will come in and overthrow Bush in retirement and rebuild America and teach us not to have IEDS.
west on April 07 at 4:25 p.m.
SpoCompton wa is alive with the misfits..
Scoutster on April 07 at 5:33 p.m.
dustmyblues…I think you are asking a very salient question.
spokanada on April 07 at 6:09 p.m.
I heard the Americans landed on the moon. I wonder if it will be in tomorrow’s S-R?
TOOBAD2 on April 08 at 10:48 a.m.
DID IT SAY MADE IN CHINA?? EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE.