Staff Report –
The Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to make arrests of right-wing extremists for threatening members of Congress, according to new announcements from the United States Department of Justice.
Jaap Willem Lijbers, a Dutch national and member of the Bugaloo Bois, was arrested Tuesday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with illegal possession of a firearm while being unlawfully present in the U.S. Lijbers, 26, was living in the U.S. on an I-94 Visa that expired on May 20, 2014. A review of immigration records showed that Lijbers never applied for adjustment or readmission.
According to court documents, Lijbers, who was residing in Raven, Virginia, frequently coordinated and communicated online with members of the Bugaloo Bois, a loosely connected group of individuals espousing violent anti-government sentiments. During some of these interactions, court documents allege that Lijbers encouraged other members of the Bugaloo Bois group to attend political rallies and commit acts of violence, to include taking over government buildings. Lijbers also encouraged others to participate in violent conduct against law enforcement officers in a “pig roast.”
The investigation of the case was conducted by the F.B.I., the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh is prosecuting the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar and Christopher R. Derrickson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division announced the arrest Wednesday, according to the press release.
Also, a man from Marionville, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury for threatening two members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Kenneth R. Hubert, 63, was charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Feb. 23. That indictment was unsealed and made public Wednesday upon Hubert’s arrest and initial court appearance. Hubert remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Monday, March 8.
The federal indictment alleges that on Jan. 7, Hubert threatened to assault and murder U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver II, with the intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with Cleaver while he was engaged in the performance of his official duties, and retaliate against Cleaver on account of the performance of his official duties. Cleaver represents the Fifth Congressional District in Missouri.
The indictment also alleges that on May 6, 2019, Hubert threatened to assault and murder U.S. Representative Steve Cohen, with the intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with Cohen while he was engaged in the performance of his official duties, and retaliate against Cohen on account of the performance of his official duties. The indictment alleges this threat occurred when Hubert called Cohen’s office in Washington, D.C. Cohen represents the Ninth Congressional District in Tennessee.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Marionville-Aurora, Mo., Police Department, according to the press release.
