California three percenter, 43, who carried 'White Privilege Card' is charged with possession of five pipe bombs and threatening to go to 'war' over Trump's election loss
A man in California has been charged with the possession of five pipe bombs after allegedly threatening to go to 'war' after Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California announced Wednesday.
Ian Benjamin Rogers, 43, has been charged with the possession of unregistered destructive devices - in this case, pipe bombs
Ian Benjamin Rogers, 43, was arrested on January 15, and has been charged with the possession of unregistered destructive devices.
Officials say Rogers told officers the bombs were for entertainment, but text messages allegedly showed that he wanted to harm Democrats and that he would 'go to war' if Trump left the white House.
Authorities say Rogers was also in possession of a 'White Privilege Card,' which referenced Trump numerous times.
The card says 'Trumps Everything' and the number of '0045' repeated four times like a credit card number, a nod to Trump being the 45th president.
It lists the cardholder as being a member since birth and until death.
Law enforcement officers say they discovered the pipe bombs during a raid of Rogers' business.
Rogers owns an auto repair shop, British Auto Repairs, in Napa Valley.
During his arrest, officers discovered a gun safe at his business, which allegedly contained the pipe bombs, black powder, pipes, and endcaps, which could be used to built the destructive devices.
They also found guns, and manuals that explained the construction of explosives, including The Anarchist Cookbook, the U.S. Army Improvised Munitions Handbook, and Homemade C-4 A Recipe for Survival.
After arresting Rogers, law enforcement found a stockpile of weapons and five pipe bombs
He was also in possession of a 'White Privilege Card,' containing many Trump references
Donald Trump's election loss may have played a role in Rogers' decision to build the bombs
'We allege that Ian Benjamin Rogers possessed homemade pipe bombs and the materials to make more,' U.S. Attorney David Anderson said. 'We will prosecute illegal weapons stockpiles regardless of the motivation of the offender.'
Rogers allegedly had contempt for Democrats in the aftermath of the election, which Trump has repeatedly claimed was 'stolen' from him.
'We can attack Twitter or the democrats you pick,' Rogers wrote in a text message, according to Law & Crime. 'I think we can attack either easily.'
Another text message said, 'I want to blow up a democrat building bad.'
Thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized from Rogers' business and home, as well as at least 49 guns.
His vehicle also had a sticker promoting the 'Three Percenters' militia group, who espouse anti-government and pro-gun beliefs.
The Napa Valley Register reports the Napa County District Attorney's Office filed 28 felony charges against Rogers last week for possessing illegal firearms and bombs.
Rogers had a 'Three Percenters' sticker on his car, a reference to a pro-gun radical group
Trump has been impeached for a second time, with democrats claiming he incited January 6's riot at the Capitol
Rogers will enter a plea in the case of those charges on Friday morning, while trying to have his bail reduced.
'He has for 15 years been a very well-respected small business owner, father, and family man. He has been a positive, contributing member of the Napa community,' defense attorney Jess Raphael said.
Rogers is currently in government custody in lieu of $5 million bail.
If convicted for possession of the pipe bombs, Rogers faces a maximum of 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.
He could also face 30 years in state prison for the Napa County DA's charges.