Militia Leader Denies Preaching Violence Against Public Officials

Embattled militia leader Joe Holland says he never preached violence against public officials in Montana and vows to fight a felony charge filed against him there.

“I have never run from a fight in my life, and I don’t intend to run from this one, either,” Holland said.

The 53-year-old national militia leader, writing in a three-page, single-spaced letter faxed to reporters late Sunday afternoon, declared the charge against him in Ravalli County, Mont., was also filed against seven Montana militia members, but “the charges were dropped after a few days.”

He called the charge of criminal syndicalism “an 80-year-old law on the Montana books that seeks to deny one’s First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.”

Holland said he will have lawyers in Montana this week working to straighten out the situation.

“I have never threatened to hang or shoot any public officials or police officers in my entire life,,” he said.

Montana Justice Department official Dennis Taylor accused Holland on Friday of issuing “provocative and intimidating material and threats encouraging individuals to commit crimes.”

State officials in particular have cited a Dec. 30 letter from Holland to the Montana Revenue Department, reading in part:

“When you violate your oath of office, you become renegade to the Constitution and guilty of treason. I am sure you know what the penalty is for treason. … We number in the thousands in your area and everywhere else. How many of your agents will be sent home in body bags before you hear the pleas of the people? Proceed at your own peril!”

Authorities have stepped up their scrutiny of militia organizations after such a group in Michigan was linked to Timothy McVeigh, the only person arrested so far in the deadly April 19 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

Holland characterized the bombing as the work of “a nut,” but made no attempt to conceal his contempt for the U.S. government and “renegade” federal agents.

Holland praised the actions of Warrick County Sheriff Bruce Hargrave and his officers on Friday, the day Holland was arrested and jailed.

After continual negotiations with Holland by phone Friday, Hargrave took Holland into custody at the Warrick County jail in late afternoon.

Minutes after his arrest, Holland refused extradition to Montana and was ordered held on a $250,000 bond. He was released on bond Friday. His next court appearance is May 26.