Purge on the Potomac

by Roberts, David Thomas;

  Ottosson couldn’t talk any more.

  “Get him some water and some bandages for his balls.”

  Beard and Will walked into the next room and removed their ski masks.

  “Wow! Who would believe any of this? I can’t wait for this to get out. So much for those who think the Deep State is a conspiracy theory,” Beard remarked to Will.

  “I’m not sure if this is fixable, Beard. Our constitutional republic is dead as we know it. The Republic of Texas is sure looking like the only real option. At least we can use this to get Zach out of jail.”

  “What’s our next step?”

  “Keep interrogating him for the technical information you need,” replied Will.

  “What are you going to do now?” asked Beard.

  “I’m going to try to reach Pops Younger.”

  Chapter 56

  “The purpose of the Bill of Rights was to limit what the federal government could do. Any interpretation of a provision of the Bill of Rights as a grant of federal power is ipso facto wrong.”

  - L.A. Powe, Jr.

  Centennial Professor of Law at The University of Texas

  “They picked up Turner’s wife and his kid, and he turned himself in so she could get bonded out,” said a distressed Hank Lofton to his crew.

  “They’re blaming him for our bombings, and for the mass shooting,” stated Jaxon Haines, one of his lieutenants.

  “What the hell are we going to do about it?” demanded another of Lofton’s crew.

  “We are going to hit more targets,” responded Lofton angrily.

  “More? Is this to help exonerate Zach?” asked Haines.

  “Partly, because it will confuse them. They will claim this is his team’s response to him getting arrested. Unfortunately for Zach, it won’t do anything publicly to help him. They haven’t stopped their pursuit of us, so we won’t stop our pursuit of them,” said Lofton confidently. “We are going to impact their ability to conduct war against us. Every damned IRS employee should lose sleep over going to work the next day. They need to think about it. If we can impact operations by having at least twenty percent of the IRS workforce staying home, then we’ve reduced their ability to wage war on us.”

  “How violent are we going to get, Hank?” asked a concerned Haines.

  Lofton stood up from his chair and, leaning over the table, he placed both hands flat on the surface as he got closer to Haines.

  “They operate by invoking terror on U.S. citizens. We will turn the tables on them and invoke terror on them,” said Lofton. His face reddened and veins in his temples bulged under his skin.

  During the early morning hours of the next day, letters in envelopes were carefully taped on the front doors of dozens of television stations under the cover of darkness. The stations were carefully chosen by location where large IRS processing centers were located and for media who had provided extended coverage of the previous IRS bombings.

  As early morning news crews began showing up to work on the east coast, the producers were faced with the dilemma of whether to make the letters public. All the stations contacted the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. The FBI asked all the stations that contacted them to not broadcast the letters; however, most of the stations felt it newsworthy and that they should make the public aware of the new threats.

  At the ABC affiliate in Austin, the early morning show began its broadcast, with the letter they received, as the lead story.

  “We begin today’s broadcast with this breaking news. This station has received a letter that directly threatens all twenty-two-hundred IRS employees that work at the Austin processing center and various other IRS locations in the city of Austin. It is a chilling warning. We would like to warn our audience that the nature of this letter, this threat―is chilling and could be disturbing to some viewers,” the host said with a concerned look on her face. “We have contacted law enforcement officials; however, neither law enforcement nor this station can confirm the authenticity of this letter. We will tell you that other outlets have received the same letter, but we do not have an exact count of how many television stations received the same letter.”

  She then looked down at a document in front of her and began reading.

  “To All IRS Employees,

  Beginning today and from this day forward, we have randomly selected various IRS locations across the country to target in response for your unapologetic terror of American citizens that, frankly, has gone on way too long.

  IRS locations will be bombed from time to time. The previous bombings were purposely designed as a warning. By our grace alone, no IRS personnel were injured. Since the IRS and Congress have not acted since those bombings to stop government-sanctioned terror on our citizens by your continual violations of due process and the Fourth Amendment, we have no choice but to act.

  Therefore, we consider every single IRS employee a terrorist. You cannot escape us. We will continue to bomb your facilities. We will place snipers outside your IRS offices and will shoot you as you go in or as you come out, on a random basis. We will target you as you leave your homes. If you choose to go to work to terrorize Americans, beginning tomorrow you are putting your life at risk.

  For those of you in Congress who facilitate the terrorists at the IRS, you too will be targets. You will not be safe, nor will your families be safe. For those judges who operate in the kangaroo courts known as the Tax Courts, you need to immediately find another line of work before it’s too late.

  Our message to you is simple. You can no longer terrorize us without evoking terror on yourselves. By this time tomorrow morning, you will know we are serious.

  Signed,

  Americans for Freedom from IRS Terror

  As the breaking news spread across the country, the attrition for IRS employees was noted, as more than thirty percent of workers did not go into their workplaces that morning. Some who showed up to work unaware of the broadcast of the letters left their posts immediately.

  “We can’t put folks’ lives at risk,” stated the worried manager at the main office in Austin, who had given his employees a choice to stay or go. “Look how close we came to a disastrous situation not too long ago from this same group. I don’t think we can risk that. This time, it could turn deadly.”

  IRS Commissioner Ivan Stanislau issued a press release about how dedicated the people of the IRS were, and stated that no terror threats would stop them from doing their mandated mission.

  “This terror group hides in the shadows,” Stanislau announced to managers, “and they don’t have the guts to pull off anything serious,”

  The news of the IRS threats began to overtake the daily updates on the mass shootings on all media outlets throughout the country as the lead story.

  Commissioner Stanislau, who was embattled by GOP-led Congressional investigative committees accusing of him of lying to Congress about the targeting of political enemies in the Johnson administration, particularly targeting Tea Party organizations, was especially combative and asked for a news crew to video him leaving his home in the University Heights area of D.C. to prove to his employees that it was safe to go to work.

  At least three national television crews and two local stations positioned satellite trucks on the crowded street to broadcast with live crews. The commissioner’s media manager had told the media outlets the commissioner would make a brief statement in his driveway before getting in his car and driving to the sprawling monolithic IRS headquarters on Constitution Avenue.

  Ivan Stanislau was a weasely-looking fellow, with short gray hair, balding on top, and he wore round, silver-framed bi-focals. He didn’t look like he had the intestinal fortitude to make such a public gesture in defiance of a terror group. A career bureaucrat, he rose in the IRS ranks primarily because of his record as a tough, non-compromising revenue agent who had gained fame in high-profile criminal tax collection efforts. Although his record of collection was impressive, he was often cited for his overly zealous tactics tha
t raised eyebrows at Treasury. The truth was that, since the IRS operates literally without regard to the Bill of Rights, he commonly used practices that would have gotten both civil and criminal cases thrown out of normal courts instantly.

  Walking out his front door, wearing a grey wool coat, suit and tie and carrying a briefcase, the commissioner waved to cameras with an awkward smile as he walked to a bank of microphones set up on his small patch of front lawn. The media had been forewarned that the commissioner was only going to make a brief statement and would not take questions.

  “Good morning,” Stanislau announced. “Like all dedicated IRS employees, I am going to work today to do the job the American people expect me to do. I, like my fellow IRS employees, will not be intimidated, threatened or terrorized by fringe, right-wing extremists, and we will continue to do our jobs. I want to thank my colleagues at the IRS, and I have full trust and confidence in the U.S. Treasury and Justice Departments that they will keep us safe and catch these lunatics in short order. Thank you.”

  The press tried to ask questions, but Stanislau waved them off. He walked about ten steps to his government-provided four-door sedan and opened the back door, reaching in to set his briefcase on the back seat. He then opened the front door and turned back to the cameras once again and waved.

  Suddenly, a few of the reporters heard a muffled thud. The cameras caught Stanislau՚s head as it snapped back violently. His glasses flew off his face. Blood and brain matter splattered the door, windshield and inside the driver’s front seat area.

  With live camera feeds rolling, the commissioner’s head snapped back upright, revealing a bullet hole right above the front left temple with blood streaming out. His face was expressionless. He remained standing for what seemed like seconds, then he slowly crumpled to the ground, his head hitting face first on the driveway. The back half of his head was mostly gone, and the grisly sight of blood, skull bone fragments and brain matter all over the car were exposed in plain sight of the cameras. Screams sounded in the background from the reporters and crews on the scene as the reality slammed into their collective consciousness.

  The cameras continued to broadcast live to the world as chaos broke out and the live cameras were dropped or knocked over as the crews realized what had happened. Crews scrambled as they instantly became aware they were in some type of live-shooter scenario, not knowing where the next shot would come from or who would be the target. There was no police presence for the live taping of Stanislau’s press event.

  Lofton’s operative ducked down behind a roof wall on top of an apartment building four doors down and cattycornered across the street. He unscrewed his noise suppressor and took apart his modified M24 sniper rifle, putting it into his backpack. He climbed down the fire escape to the ground, stepped into a walkway between two fence lines and walked two blocks to a waiting car. As soon as he got in the car, the sniper changed shirts, took off his wig, hat and mustache and a faux paunch belly. No one noticed him.

  Many of the live television feeds were cut off by producers back in studio once they realized what they were transmitting to the world. Instantly, the video of the assassination of Ivan Stanislau went viral. Soon thereafter, a tweet on a Twitter feed from a brand-new Twitter account named “The Great Purge” stated:

  “This is only the beginning. We warned IRS not to go to work terrorizing Americans. Let this be notice to all IRS employees from today forward. #thegreatpurge”

  Within a few minutes, that tweet was followed by:

  “The IRS commissioner has made a career of terrorizing innocent Americans and political enemies. That career ended today. #thegreatpurge

  Followed a few minutes later by:

  “There is no one we cannot reach. Do you hear that, Congress? President Bartlett? Close the IRS now, for good! #thegreatpurge

  The tweets came from Hank Lofton as he sat on a concrete city park bench on the Galveston sea wall, looking out at the Gulf of Mexico. He stood up, about to walk down the steps to the vacant beach, when he decided to send one more tweet.

  “Zach Turner, who the govt has in custody, is not associated with #thegreatpurge.”

  Lofton walked down the steps to the edge of the waves pounding the beach from the Gulf. After meticulously wiping it down, he took the prepaid temporary phone he’d used and threw it as far as he could into the water. One couldn’t be too careful.

  Chapter 57

  “President Vladimir Putin could never have imagined anyone so ignorant or so willing to destroy their people like Obama much less seeing millions vote for someone like Obama. They read history in America, don’t they? Alas, the schools in the U.S. were conquered by the Communists long ago and history was revised thus paving the way for their Communist presidents.”

  - Xavier Lerma

  Russian columnist for Pravda

  Source: Obamas Soviet Mistake, Pravda, 19.11.2012

  Texas Rangers’ Commandant Pops Younger had a decision to make. Federal arrest warrants had been issued for all of Zach Turner’s known associates, including Will and Beard.

  Both the government and the media had already tied the Free Texas movement to the IRS bombings and the mass shooting. Will knew that reaching out to Pops presented risks but, like Zach, he totally trusted Pops.

  “Its Turner’s wing man, Will,” said Dyson as he handed the phone to Pops as they drove to the Dallas Fairgrounds for more investigative meetings with the FBI.

  The news had just broken about Commissioner Ivan Stanislau being assassinated on national TV.

  “Younger here,” said Pops.

  “Mr. Younger, this is Will Turnbow. Thank you for taking my call.”

  “Hello, son. I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you last night. I’m going to ask you right off the bat…”

  “No need, sir. We had nothing to do with this morning’s events. Nothing whatsoever.”

  “Do you know who did?”

  “I have an idea,” hedged Will, “but I can’t imagine it would have gone to this extreme.”

  “Hank Lofton?”

  “I couldn’t confirm this for sure,” Will said. “His group doesn’t communicate with us since he split with Zach. I was a little bit more convinced when I saw the tweets.”

  “What about the tweets?”

  “Lofton always used the term ‘purge’ when referring to ultimately fighting back against the Deep State. It may just be coincidence, but I thought you should know.”

  “Son, I want you to know we are checking on Zach daily. His wife and son were reunited last evening and are headed to Austin as we speak. We know Zach has nothing to do with any of this. What news have you boys got for me?” Pops questioned.

  “Mr. Younger, we have information that will exonerate Zach, but we also have some of the most incredible video testimony you will ever witness. Unfortunately, it will rock our constitutional republic to the core―and it goes all the way to the White House.”

  Pops pondered that for a few seconds. “Where did you boys get this information?”

  “Ottosson.”

  “How is that possible?” asked Pops.

  “Let’s just say we had a nice sit-down chat with him,” Will said.

  “Really? Why am I suddenly worried how you boys extracted that information?”

  “We conveniently arranged for Mr. Ottosson to meet with us.”

  “Son, be careful. Any testimony you get outta that scumbag that is acquired by questionable methods may be inadmissible later,” scolded Pops.

  “I think you need to see the video, sir.”

  “Who else has seen it?”

  “Only my crew was present,” Will told him.

  “Where is Ottosson now?”

  “He’s our guest, for now.”

  “Your guest?” Pops chuckled. “I don’t want to know any more about that.”

  “I understand,” Will said.

  “What can you tell me about the Russian?” Pops pressed.

  “The Russian orchestrated the mass
shooting.”

  “Of course, he did,” Pops snorted. “Did Ottosson give you details?”

  “Yes,” Will said, “and these details go all the way to the Oval Office.”

  Pops paused to let that statement sink in for a moment, “What? Son, are you telling me the damned president can be implicated in the Dallas mass shootings? And… that you have proof?”

  “I’m not only telling you that, sir, but this is only the beginning of the admissions made by Ottosson.”

  “How credible are they?”

  “Seem credible to us,” Will stated. “You’ll have to see the videos and determine for yourself.”

  “I’m going to want to interview Ottosson, if he is still your guest,” Pops said.

  “We can bring him to you, or you can come to Ottosson.”

  “Where you boys at?”

  “We are much closer to D.C. than we are to Dallas, sir.”

  “I’m coming to you. Don’t tell me on this line where Ottosson is; just tell me where to meet you. I’ll hand this over to Dyson. We will be there as quick as we can.”

  Dyson took the phone to arrange a different method to get the details on where to meet Will. After he got off the phone, he turned to Pops, “Did I hear correctly that the Russian is involved in the shooting and that the White House knows?”

  “These boys are saying Ottosson is claiming the White House not only knows, but had something to do with it.”

  “Damn, Pops, how is it these boys have gotten to Ottosson? What did they do, kidnap his ass?”

  “Probably. All I know is somehow we have been given the opportunity to interview him.”

  “Pops, if they’ve kidnapped him and we go wherever they’re holding him, we could be accessories!”

  “Damn it, Dyson, I know that. I also know we’ve got a couple of hundred murdered kids and a governor who’s plane went down mysteriously, who just happened to be a personal friend! I’ll be damned if I ain’t following up on this lead. You know that boy Turner ain’t done a damned thing. What the hell choice do we have?”