A State of Treason

by David Thomas Roberts

  Suddenly the quiet residential street became a war zone as the FBI agents used automatic weapons to unload their clips into the house from the front and back yards. Several concussion grenades were launched into the home, along with tear gas.

  When all the smoke settled, two FBI agents lay dead. Inside the home, both the Texas Ranger and Rep. Barborosa were down in the small living room, riddled by multiple gunshot wounds each, soaking the carpet in blood.

  “Headquarters, we have two agents down. Request backup and ambulance immediately!”

  “Where is the state legislator? Did you get Barborosa?”

  “Negative, sir, he received return fire and appears to be dead. So is the Ranger.”

  “The Ranger? What Ranger?”

  “Sir, there was a Texas Ranger in here with him. They fired first, sir. We just returned fire. It does not appear there is anyone else in the house; we just cleared it.”

  “Does the politician have a gun? Are other law enforcement officers on the scene?”

  “No, sir, not so far, but I imagine we will see them soon.”

  “Agent, walk outside and get on a secure line now!” commanded Regional FBI Deputy Director Lee Cabot.

  The agent walked around the garage and out of sight from his fellow agents securing the crime scene.

  “I want you to make sure that politician was armed. Do you understand me?”

  “But, sir…”

  “Agent! Did you hear my orders?” yelled the director.

  “Well, yes, sir, but where…?

  “Damn it, son! I am ordering you to make sure both those men have weapons. Do you fully understand me or do you need me to spell this out?”

  “Yes, sir. But I don’t know where we will get…”

  “Agent Henry, I can promise you a crap storm you won’t survive if that politician doesn’t have a weapon with his prints on it near his body before the local police show up. Now, do I make myself clear?”

  “Crystal clear, sir.”

  Eight minutes later, sheriff’s deputies and Waxahachie police were on the scene.

  Lead Agent Henry began explaining to the sheriff’s deputies what had happened.

  “We were here to serve a federal arrest warrant. We fully identified ourselves and gave them the opportunity to exit the home. They wouldn’t come out. They shot at us as we tried to enter. They took out two of our agents and we had no choice.”

  “Did they both fire at your men?” asked a skeptical sheriff’s deputy.

  “Yes, both of them. Looks like Barborosa had a .38 revolver.” He pointed to a gun lying next to Barborosa’s body.

  “Breaking news!” came the interruption on the local Dallas Fox affiliate television station. “Federal agents have raided a home in Waxahachie belonging to State Rep. Daniel Barborosa. Initial reports indicate there are four fatalities on the scene, including Rep. Barborosa.”

  This bombshell began to spread worldwide. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain what had happened. The Johnson administration’s threat to arrest Texas legislators for treason took another ugly turn.

  The administration immediately made a statement that the deaths were unnecessary and were caused by Rep. Barborosa and Ranger Simmons, further proof of Texas officials’ hostility to federal agents simply trying to do their jobs. Reports surfaced that Barborosa had a revolver in his hands at the scene.

  That fact was argued vehemently by Barborosa’s distraught wife on air, who claimed her husband never owned a gun, never a shot a gun in his life, and wouldn’t know how to use one if he was handed one. The government did not say who the gun was registered to. The wife was believable and public sentiment against the administration began growing, even outside of Texas.

  An enraged Gov. Brahman held a hastily called press conference. “Once again, this administration has murdered an elected state official and a Texas Ranger. Rep. Barborosa’s crime? He cast a vote in his capacity as a freely elected state legislator to provide Texas voters a special election referendum. This president has determined that he is judge, jury and executioner, calling that most basic democratic right treason!” said a disgusted Brahman.

  “America, it’s time to wake up. You won’t impeach this clown. You won’t indict this criminal attorney general. I am embarrassed for America. I am sad but ticked off that Americans have let their country deteriorate to the point that the federal government can perpetrate these types of crimes and that people are more concerned over the score of Monday Night Football than the tyranny that exists,” spat Brahman.

  Chapter 45

  “Congress has no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American... the unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.”

  ~Tench Coxe (1755-1824)

  Delegate to the Continental Congress

  American Political Economist

  Patriot

  Throughout a twenty-four hour period, various local law enforcement officials and federal agents made attempts to arrest more than two dozen state legislators. The result was zero successful arrests and four federal agents killed. President Johnson failed to get his symbolic treasonous trophy to present to the world ahead of the election.

  Newfound outrage was beginning to be openly discussed on every level in the media, but was nothing compared to the rage in Texas that, already simmering, began to boil over. The administration now feared they were losing their grip on the entire narrative of the Texas crisis.

  “What are our options, Avery?” asked the president to a small gathering of his most trusted cabinet members.

  “Honestly, Mr. President, we are seeing the very beginning of a loss of our public relations advantage here. I apologize for recommending this course of action, but damn, we couldn’t even get one of these jokers?” asked Smith, looking directly at Jamail Tibbs.

  “Pops Younger,” said Tibbs.

  “What?” Smith asked.

  “That damned old wily cowboy. He somehow knew exactly what we would do, and he put his people in place,” said Tibbs.

  “This seems to be a recurring theme,” said Anna Bartlett sarcastically, never missing an opportunity to get a dig in on the attorney general.

  “We have four days, Mr. President. It is going to require swift and extreme measures at this point. Those sons of bitches just don’t get it,” quipped Tibbs.

  “I’m all ears, Jamail,” said the president, resigned to the fact he needed a broad spectrum of ideas here. He was running out of time and all indications were this was going to be a close vote, even before the arrest attempts. It may have been just enough for Texans to dig in their heels and conduct the vote. Even worse, it increasingly looked like the referendum could pass.

  “Well, let’s suppose they have the vote and it passes. What would we do then?” Smith asked.

  “We would have to intervene, militarily if necessary,” answered Johnson.

  “Exactly. So, if we think the vote would carry, then why wait?” asked Tibbs.

  “He’s got a point, sir,” added Smith, nodding agreement.

  “Gentlemen, we are talking about launching a military strike into one of our very own states, against fellow Americans. I can’t imagine this is the corner we are backed into and that this would be our only solution,” reasoned Bartlett.

  “Anna, you have been to Texas during the crisis. What is your solution?” asked the president.

  “Continue to negotiate.”

  “Negotiate?” yelled Tibbs. “They have a vote to secede from the United States in four days! If we prevent the vote from happening, nobody will ever know if the vote would have passed and we can make the argument until kingdom come that it would never have passed!”

  The room was silent for more than twenty seconds as they all pondered Tibbs’ reasoning.

  “I think the debate takes a completely
different turn if the vote is allowed to proceed. Jamail is right. The more I think about it, the more options his strategy gives us,” said Smith.

  “I just cannot believe this is our chosen course! Are we really talking about a full-scale military invasion of Texas?” asked Bartlett.

  “Anna, do you want to excuse yourself for reasons of plausible deniability?” asked the president, referring to Bartlett’s well-known intentions for the Democratic nomination for president during the next election cycle. She was the early frontrunner from either party.

  Bartlett had to think for a minute. If this was successful, she should want to be part of it. Pausing for just a few moments, her political instincts kicked in. Everything Tibbs seemed to touch became an unmitigated disaster for one reason or another. She wasn’t about to put what she felt was a shoe-in for being elected the first female president in the hands of Tibbs.

  “Mr. President, I sincerely appreciate your concern. I believe I will take you up on your suggestion. Gentlemen, I wish you great success in your decision to end this crisis.” She stood up, straightened her frumpy purple dress and calmly walked out of the Oval Office without hesitation.

  As she closed the door behind her, Smith remarked, “That is one political warhorse, gentlemen. Mr. President, I’ll never know how you beat her in the primary,” he laughed.

  “I had you, Avery. I simply had you and she didn’t. Did I also mention I was black?” chuckled the president.

  Tibbs wasn’t much for small talk.

  “The first thing we do is implement martial law.”

  “Jamail, you know we don’t have enough sympathetic law enforcement presence there to make that very effective.”

  “It will serve its purpose. It will put common folks on notice and it will give us the legal authority to do what we need to do when our troops arrive,” stated Tibbs.

  “Jamail, you’ve obviously been thinking about this for a while,” commented the president with a knowing grin.

  “Sir, it would be the pinnacle of my career as your attorney general to rein in these treasonous bastards.”

  “Let’s all be clear here. The strategy would be an all-in effort to take the State House in Austin, while controlling the message all along the way,” said Johnson. “We simply cannot let the vote move forward. Avery, I want an immediate meeting with Homeland Security and the Joint Chiefs. How quickly can this be called?”

  “Mr. President, we can have this convened in an hour, maybe two at the most,” answered Smith.

  “Mr. President, no disrespect regarding past decisions, but I am so happy to hear you say you are going to pursue this course of action,” said Tibbs. “I personally think we should have done this quite a while ago, but I’m ecstatic that you both believe as I do that it’s time to decimate the traitors in Austin.”

  Two-and-a-half hours later, the administration and the Joint Chiefs were in the situation room in the White House planning their strategy to prevent the Texas referendum from being rolled out to voters and to replace state government in Texas, by any means necessary.

  Chapter 46

  “I’ve heard over and over that people are afraid to tell their stories, but know this, my experience at the hands of this government the last five years have made me more determined than ever before to stand before you and all Americans and say, I will not retreat, I will not surrender, I will not be intimidated, I will not ask for permission to exercise my constitutional rights.”

  ~ Catherine Engelbrecht

  Founder of True the Vote & King Street Patriots

  Testimony before House Committee on IRS

  Targeting 2014

  American Tea Party Hero

  In the months that preceded the American Revolution, the colonists could be generally described as belonging to three different political categories. They were either loyalists to King George III, completely indifferent, being pre-occupied with their responsibilities with their families, farms or shops; or they were adamantly in favor of independence. It has been estimated that less than two percent of the American colonists actually picked up a musket and participated in the American Revolution.

  This was also true of the fight for Texas Independence in 1836. Texas historical record confirms roughly 2,100 Texas patriots actually took part in actual battles for independence that led to the Republic of Texas. Texas independence was forged from huge historical events that generally emanated from relatively small numbers of freedom fighters and patriots.

  Less than one hundred fifty farmers and townspeople formed a militia, determined to keep their small cannon to ward off Indian attacks, openly defying Mexico’s order to give up the cannon to Mexican dragoons. This action lit the fuse at the Battle of Gonzales, igniting the Texas revolution against Santa Anna. The first attempt at centralized government gun control in Texas failed miserably.

  One hundred eighty-four courageous Texians were determined to buy time for Sam Houston. Time was needed for Houston to recruit and train troops and for the provisional government to be formed. Under twenty-six year-old Col. William Barrett Travis, these brave patriots bought thirteen precious days with their blood against more than four thousand Mexican troops and ultimately died heroically at the little mission in Bexar, forever known as the Alamo.

  Three hundred three Texian volunteers captured at Fort Defiance were massacred on direct orders from Santa Anna in the Goliad Massacre.

  Sam Houston led roughly 900 men in the Battle of San Jacinto and surprisingly defeated Santa Anna, his men yelling, “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad,” and routing the Mexicans. This decisive twenty-minute victory is still studied in military academies worldwide and, to date, the results still represent the largest land mass transfer in world history as a result of a single battle, opening the door for eventual U.S. expansion in the southwest all the way to and including California.

  There comes a time in all historic struggles for independence where a decision has to made at the individual level. Neighbors challenged neighbors on where they stood. If you stood on the side of independence and divulged that to a loyalist, you and your entire family could be hanged as treasonous traitors to King George III or Generalissimo Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. On the other hand, if you were sympathetic to the redcoats, you were a “Tory.” Many tried unsuccessfully to straddle the fence. That decision was not only life-changing, but life-threatening. Too many found out that to remain neutral, isolated, uninvolved or indifferent landed the conflict right at the doorstep of their homesteads.

  As Santa Anna entered Texas with 6,000 battle-hardened Mexican Regulars determined to put down the rebellious Texians, colonists, farmers and merchants fled in the Runaway Scrape, in many cases leaving their evening supper still simmering in the kettle in the fireplace.

  They knew the tyrannical Mexican ruler Santa Anna was ruthless. Who would stay and stand? Who would put their businesses, farms, ranches, and lives on the line for the principles of freedom, liberty and self-determination? There was no hedging of your bets. If a Texian or American colonist chose freedom, it was win, or die.

  * * *

  With less than forty-eight hours before the election, the president was once again on prime time television from the Oval Office.

  “Good evening, my fellow Americans,” began the president. “I am sad to report to the country that the situation in Texas dictates further federal action from this administration. Under consultation with the United States Congress, I am hereby invoking my Constitutional authority and am announcing that, beginning at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time tomorrow morning, the State of Texas will hereby be under martial law,” he said grimly.

  “The referendum authorized by the state legislature of Texas and signed by Texas Gov. Brahman to offer a vote on secession from the United States is unconstitutional and is, in fact, treasonous. Therefore, we are placing the state under martial law in order to prevent this unlawful act, and to replace state officials with federal government appointees until such a time wher
e free and democratic elections can once again occur in Texas.”

  The president turned slightly to the left to read from the other teleprompter. “Local law enforcement officials will be assisted by the U.S. military in enforcing martial law. Under my authority, by executive order, I am officially declaring the scheduled secession referendum vote null and void. We have come too far in this country to allow a few extremists in state government to jeopardize this Union,” said the president flatly.

  “Let me assure the American people, especially those in Texas, that neither my administration, nor the congressional leaders we consulted, took the issue of declaring martial law lightly. The bloodshed, looting of federal buildings and occupation of military bases in Texas has tested my patience and that of fellow Americans, and it is simply time for it to end. And, let me assure you, it will end.

  “Under martial law, I have signed the following executive orders to be implemented immediately by local law enforcement, various branches of the U.S. military and DHS, the FBI and ATF:

  “First, there will be an eight o’clock curfew in all major Texas cities where residents will be required to be in their homes and off the streets and highways.

  “Next, any persons in the act of organizing a polling place for the illegal referendum will be immediately arrested, as will any citizens who participate in the election for any polling places that manage to open illegally.

  “Next, all firearms and ammunition sales in Texas are immediately halted and retail outlets are being instructed to remove any ammunition currently on store shelves. Selling, transferring, transporting or purchasing a firearm or ammunition while martial law is in effect will be treated as a felony.

  “Federal employees are encouraged to show up for work as normal and are exempt from curfew with proper identification and if their jobs require them to be on the road past eight p.m.

  “State officials who cast a vote in favor of the secession referendum will be required to turn themselves in to local law enforcement or federal officials.