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THE FRANKLIN COVER-UP -- CHILD ABUSE, SATANISM, AND MURDER IN NEBRASKA |
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CHAPTER CHAPTER 22: FROM MONTANA TO OKLAHOMA CITY Within hours after the bomb -- or bombs -- exploded in front of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, on April 19, 1995, FBI agents were in my office in Lincoln, Nebraska, seeking my assistance to identify the bombers. Why would the FBI come to Lincoln, Nebraska, to see a lawyer named John DeCamp on a bombing in Oklahoma? Just weeks before, I had successfully represented the leadership and members of a group identifying itself as the Militia of Montana (MOM), in one of the strangest cases in which I had ever been involved. It was through reading the first edition of The Franklin Cover-Up, that the Militia of Montana got my name and sought my assistance. Until they called me in early 1995, I had not even known that militias existed in this country nor, of course, that these "militias" were being closely watched by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and being viewed as a national security danger. The Militia of Montana contacted me in a state of terror after their leaders and leaders of another group identifying themselves as "The Freemen," were physically assaulted, seized, and arrested in the town of Roundup, Montana, in early January 1995. I was shocked, as I listened to the story of their arrest, imprisonment and physical abuse by public officials. Why? Because these men were arrested and tortured, put under bond requirements in the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars, charged with the crime of sedition with mandatory 10 and 20-year prison terms, and were about to go to trial. My question was, "For what?!" It quickly evolved that their "crime" was that they had met with individuals like themselves -- not for any actual violation of the law. As I investigated, and learned just how unconstitutional these arrests were, I agreed to take their case -- even though I did not necessarily support, or even know, their beliefs or philosophy. Why did I do this? I have always been a zealous defender of the First Amendment -- Freedom of Speech, Press, Assembly. This Militia of Montana case convinced me that irrespective of what I personally thought about the beliefs of the MOM Leaders or the Freemen, these individuals had done nothing wrong, but were classic victims of improper government arrest, harassment, and abuse. As the case went on, I became very assertive on behalf of these men, angered by what had happened -- and was still happening -- under color of law. Soon, the major media focused attention on the case, telling wild lies about the facts of the incident surrounding the arrests. In February and March and April of 1995, talk shows repeatedly requested me to explain the true story, which I did. Meanwhile, militia groups from across the United States began marshaling to come to Montana, and to deal with the imprisonment of the MOM and Freemen in some fashion outside the court room; this caused me grave concern. The Attorney General of Montana became involved in the case, along with federal officials at various levels, who feverishly worked to create a case to justify the imprisonment and abuse of these men. As the deadline approached for determining whether there was to be a full scale trial to attempt to permanently lock these men up, I, acting as their attorney, gave a written ultimatum to the Attorney General and to the Governor of Montana. I reprint it here, just as I delivered it to the Attorney General, the Governor, and to the Montana State Legislature: Memorandum from: JOHN W. DECAMP, ATTY/"MONTANA SEVEN" To: John
Connor/Montana Atty. Gen'l office Dear John: As I have promised, I have investigated thoroughly the situation on these charges and would like to make the following request: I would respectfully request that all charges of any nature filed against my clients be dismissed as soon as possible and that any and all personal property of my clients still held be returned. I would also, on their behalf; make the following offer to resolve in advance any civil rights litigation that my clients may initiate against the entities involved in the episode of arrest, incarceration, charges, that occurred: If the State would make a public apology to them, explain to the public the real truth on what occurred and why it occurred, insure the dismissal of the two Mussel Shell County deputies involved, and pay the sum of $1.00 (One Dollar) to my clients, they would waive their civil rights case that we believe they absolutely have against the various entities and personalities involved in this most interesting story. Having said these things, John, let me present to you first the results of our/my investigation as well as some surprising offers and requests that I doubt any defendants have ever offered in Montana -- or maybe anywhere else, for that matter. SITUATION: I/We believe the episode culminating in the arrest and filing of charges against the "Montana Seven" began with: (1) A Con Job by a long-time repeat offender, (Call him John Doe), who was arrested and incarcerated again on or about late Feb. 1995 for very serious spousal abuse. John Doe had become obsessed with a jealous rage and anger because he believed that a certain individual, one of the Montana Seven and a so-called Freeman had a "Relationship" with his wife that he did not sanction while he, John Doe, was previously incarcerated. John Doe also knew that the charges he was facing were very grave. More important, John Doe knew that the Mussel Shell Sheriff's office (particularly Deputy Buzz Jones) was himself obsessed with concerns and fears and hatreds of the Freeman and/or the Montana Militia. John Doe solved his incarceration problem by spinning a tale for Deputy Jones -- and later others -- to the effect that the Freemen were on the verge of kidnapping and hanging public officials, particularly a Judge, as well as robbing banks and doing any sort of other dastardly deed that John Doe could spin a tale about and which Mussel Shell officials were ready to lap up without proper investigation or analysis. Naturally, John Doe identified his former friend, one of the Montana Seven and a Freeman, as one who was to be involved in this tale of terror -- and described well his truck, items in it, etc. -- including a pile of money, gold and guns to watch out for. And thus, with one fantastic -- though fantasy -- tale, John Doe solved his incarceration problem and his jealousy problem, we believe the evidence will clearly show and which we believe the state is now aware of. And, with fears being driven by the Con Job of John Doe on certain public officials, on Feb. 27, 1995, warnings were issued from Federal and Other officials that armageddon was about to descend upon poor little Roundup from an invasion of the Freemen or Montana Militia, or whoever. FICKLE FINGER OF FATE: Next, enter the fickle finger of fate -- and, of course, paranoia and probably incompetence on the part of the local officials of Mussel Shell County, Montana. And this drama unfolds. Seven individuals -- some who did not even know or had never even met each other before, and comprised of individuals some of whom were members of the Montana Militia and others who were members of the Freemen -- all ended up in Roundup at about the same time, but for different reasons. Defendant Dale Martin Jacobi of Thompson Falls, a businessman who just sold his business and has the cash from the sale and other property -- guns from his home since he is moving them; equipment from his business electrical/plbg/htng business -- rides into Roundup in his 1 ton '83 Chevy right after using part of his business sale proceeds to buy some gold coins in Billings. Accompanying Jacobi was his friend and, because Jacobi was carrying his stash of loot from sale of his business, bodyguard, Frank Eugene Ellena of Billings. Frank had borrowed a two way business network radio completely legal, licensed, etc., from another "Desperado" who ended up a member of the Montana Seven, namely, businessman Amando Gerry Lopez of Rexford. Lopez, also a Freeman, used the equipment in his business and allowed Frank to have the radio because Frank wanted to have access to assistance because he and Jacobi were carrying the cash mentioned above. Frank also had to file some "Trust Papers" in the courthouse in Roundup for some property Frank had bought in the county. Meanwhile, John Trochman, not a Freeman, but founder of the Montana Militia, had come to the area to meet with F.B.I. officials whom he works with, and to allay any concerns or disagreements or misunderstandings between representatives of the Freemen Group and the Montana Militia. Now comes Paul D. Stramer, Eureka, along with his friend, Cajun James, a disabled vet out of Eureka, whose gun-toting, buckskins-wearing, foot-long beard and super-long hair appearance would make the average person look and probably think twice about messing with him. But, until now, appearance is not a felony. Stramer wants to set up a statewide radio network for the Patriotic groups (Militia and/or Freemen) and is seeking financial assistance from the arch-enemy of the local officials, namely a Mr. Leroy Switzer. And Cajun James, a legally licensed gun salesman, has been given an order for purchase of weapons (single shot, I might add) from Mr. Switzer also. Mr. Switzer utilizes a CMO for his purchases (Certified Money Order) which he believes has value but which there seems to be considerable disagreement on as to how much value it has in the overall financial community -- but that is not an issue in the arrest of these individuals, merely an interesting sidebar. On Friday, March 3, 1995, the Fickle Finger of Fate caused Deputy Buzz Jones to arrest, rather violently and without sound reason, Mr. Jacobi and Mr. Ellena in Roundup and to search their vehicle. Deputy Jones found just what his con informant had told him he might find: gold, hordes of cash, guns, radio equipment, and two individuals who belonged to the militant groups he, Deputy Jones hated. Deputy Jones apparently believed he was on the verge of stopping an invasion, kidnapping, murder and worse. And, under those circumstances, why not rough up the individuals you have arrested? Why not scream obscenities at them and threaten them and tell them that those f ---Freemen are not going to take over his town. And Deputy Jones did that ... and a lot more. But, unknown to Deputy Jones, watching from a short distance was one of the other Freemen who then contacted the other individuals named here and said they should check on what was going on. Besides, as Lopez said, "They got my radio and I need it for my business and I can't afford another one. They cost $500.00 and I am going to go to the Sheriff and see if they will give it back to me." COMEDY TURNS TO SERIOUS TRAGEDY So, in two separate vehicles, the other individuals named drive over to the Sheriff's office to check on their friends and to ask for the return of Mr. Lopez's radio. The tale gets controversial and tragic here. A couple of the defendants go into the sheriff's office to seek return of the Lopez radio and the others wait in their car properly parked in front of the sheriff's office. None of the Montana Seven defendants does anything improper or illegal. All are polite. But, suddenly, with lightning speed and led by Deputy Jones, the officials assault these individuals. They believe, apparently driven by paranoia, they have a right to capture. Again, led by Deputy Jones, the Montana Seven are trussed up like hogs; handcuffed with their hands behind their backs; forced to lie for six hours in pain on concrete trussed up and handcuffed. They abuse them in a variety of other ways, threaten them with loaded shotguns in their backs and chests, break out car windows, question them in violation of all legal and proper police standards; charge them with felonies of every ilk and description and fabricate allegations to support their charges and their actions. The officials lie to the relatives and friends calling in to the sheriff's office and repeatedly deny that the Montana Seven are even at the jailor have been arrested. And these things recited here are the nicest things the local officials do. THEN SANITY STARTS TO RETURN Believing they have captured the seven most dangerous men in America, the local sheriff and his cohorts bring in the Feds. The Feds figure out -- we believe -- that they are in the midst of a comedy of errors and misunderstandings and after questioning the Montana Seven, quickly get out of any further involvement in the matters pending and return everything to local officials. We believe they, the Feds, are the ones who alerted the Attorney General of Montana of the need for some proper law enforcement involvement ... but we do not know. Next, the Attorney General of Montana gets involved: a man named John Connor, and over the next few days sanity and proper law enforcement procedures begin to replace keystonekops and police brutality. Hundred Thousand Dollar Bonds are reduced to ten thousand dollar bond and communication is established between the attorney for the Montana Seven, myself, and the A.G.'s office. Of course, before sanity begins returning, politicians (and I sure understand this) leap on the bandwagon and proclaim the evils of the terrorists and how the state must not be a victim of such terrorists; the media hypes the story -- without benefit of accurate facts or any responsible investigative reporting and -- the families and businesses of the Montana Seven are horribly damaged. And, the local law enforcement officials who prompted the comedy, "leak" one sordid and wild tale after another to the media as to what "really" occurred. It is time now, John, to tether ourselves to reality instead of to Rambo and resolve this case. And that is what I am offering to do with this letter. As a sample of how far reality and what was being perceived as reality were separated, let me provide you some of the evidence grabbed which was supposed to support a charge (remember the claims in the media being supported by "leaks" from Local Officials, particularly Deputy Jones) of counterfeiting. Attached is the $3.00 bill which was the basis for the claim. You might note, John, that if this is counterfeiting, then "every novelty store, gift shop and curio shop in America is in the business of counterfeiting and marketing counterfeit money. Yet, John, this was probably the closest to reason of any of the charges against the individuals. As a final offer to get this settled and in the best interest of getting some accurate information to all Montanans, my clients would like to make the following offer: Each of my clients would undergo a polygraph test on any material question relating to these charges against them or the events and incidents surrounding this. They would want you to bring in the best polygraph expert(s) in the country .They would agree in advance that any results of the testing for any and all of them, no matter whether it showed positive or negative for them, would be admissible in court, civil or criminal. There would be only one condition: That is, they insist the two Deputies and local officials in Musselshell County also be subject to the same terms and conditions. That is, polygraph examination on the material facts surrounding the arrest, incarceration, filing of charges, police brutality, etc. Finally, for the benefit of all Montanans, they agree in advance that any representatives of the press would be allowed to be present at the polygraph examination and submit any questions they might have about the events. Why all this? So much injury and damage has been done and so much disinformation has been put out that it is in the best interest of everybody, including particularly the Montana Seven, that the truth get out. And it is in the best interests of everybody, that Law Enforcement be held to the same standards of truth and responsibility they expect of the citizens. Again, I would repeat my offer as outlined in the beginning of this letter; and with these additional incentives I have just mentioned, polygraph, willingness to answer any questions for the press, it seems it would be beneficial for everyone to get these matters resolved, sanity restored and the situation de-escalated. Awaiting your
reply I remain, John W. DeCamp,
[All emphasis in original.] *** The official response of the Attorney General of Montana to my ultimatum, was to say that the state of Montana was proceeding with the trial on charges of criminal syndicalism (sedition). The Deputy Attorney General John Connor, a fine individual who had to do whatever the Governor and Attorney General told him to, informed the press that my ultimatum would be ignored. The Governor also stoked the rumor mills by, first, creating a strawman called "the Militia." He put forward the bogus story that the MOM had planned to assault the Sheriff's office and the courthouse in Roundup, and hang the judges. When the press told me what the Governor and the Attorney General were purporting, I replied, "This story is pure fantasy, an attempt by public officials to excuse their mistakes. I dare Montana and its officials to go to trial on these bogus charges, because Montana will lose, and its criminal syndicalism laws will be declared unconstitutional." Then, in March 1995, at the last minute before my deadline for dismissal of the charges, the Attorney General's office swept into Roundup, dismissed all the charges, and informed the press that Montana officials were not responding to my demands, but were dismissing the charges because the Attorney General "needed more evidence" to prove his case. My goal to free these men had been accomplished. For that I felt proud and satisfied. The case received much national attention --especially with law enforcement at both the state and the federal level, and I became somewhat of a legend among the patriot and militia movement. At the height of the "Montana Seven" case, as it came to be known, I had been dealing directly with the Montana Governor's office, the Attorney General's office and officials in Washington, as well as with the national press, trying to prevent an outbreak of violence spawned by either the militias or by the government. During February, and particularly in March and early April of 1995, rumors were flying through the entire Militia and Patriot community on almost an hourly basis, warning of imminent raids by federal officials against militia compounds. Nationwide, militias were circulating reports in all their fax, press and phone networks, that these raids were coming, and that the militia members had better be prepared. The militias specified in their written and oral communications, the date of April 19, 1995, as the date of the impending onslaught. Militia members had become convinced that a Federal Strike Team composed of ATF and FBI, CIA and U.S. military was about to launch airborne and ground strikes against various militia headquarters, particularly against the Militia of Montana at Noxon, Montana. Militias across the country prepared to defend themselves against these attacks. All this intense activity -- unknown by most Americans then, or now -- was occurring in the first half of April 1995. During that same period, I and others, such as former presidential candidate Bo Gritz, for example, spent hours each day trying to determine whether any such strikes were actually planned, or were just wild rumors. Federal officials advised us that no attacks were planned, information we relayed to militia leaders both in person and through talk shows on the patriot networks, working nonstop to defuse the extremely volatile situation. This was the environment in the militia world, on the eve of April 19, 1995. Given my role in the midst of this, it was inevitable that the Feds showed up on my doorstep right after the Oklahoma bombing.
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