"No bended knee for me" - the Persecution of Robert Beecher

[Gary Hunt]

"No bended knee for me" - the Persecution of Robert Beecher

Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
June 20, 2014

A few days ago, a post appeared on Facebook.  It was rather brief, and rather poorly written, but it had a message in it.  Fortunately, the person posting was willing to remove it from Facebook, pending an investigation into the veracity of what was said, as well as what was implied, in that post.  The post was about Robert Beecher, who was recently arrested, either in a conspiracy "to kidnap and torture" a DHS agent, or a simple firearms violation.  That point is still not clear, though it is what leads up to the "conspiracy" allegation that brought it into the limelight.

The post read, in part, "Robert [Beecher] has asked me to give the name of the person who the FBI says... is accusing Robert M. Beecher of "planning with him" to kidnap and torture an agent of the DHS.  He is the one... his name was given by the FBI and whose statement the FBI used to swarm in on Robert at his place of work.  At the same time, they hit Robert's home property.  The accuser's name is Jerry Bruckhart, with the Operation Mutual Aid group."  As written, it is accusatory, though in fact, Beecher was trying to determine what the connection between he and Jerry Bruckhart was, which would lead to such an accusation.  So, the subjects of the investigation are Jerry Bruckhart (co-founder of OMA), Operation Mutual Aid (OMA), as an organization, and Robert Beecher.  It is the roles of the two people and the organization that is the subject of this article.

Payne and Bruckhart started Operation Mutual Aid, a few years back.  In 2012, Beecher, thinking that he had found a group that appealed to his objectives, joined as a member -- an open membership organization.  Bruckhart's explanation of his relationship with Beecher follows.

In an interview, Bruckhart states that his knowledge of Robert Beecher is minimal.  He did have a conversation, via telephone, with Beecher back in 2012, as he does with all new members of OMA.  That is the only conversation he has every had with Robert Beecher.  He states that he has been involved with discussions on various Internet pages where Beecher may have been involved in the same discussion, as his recollection of the name brings that possibility to mind.  Sometime in 2013, Robert Beecher deleted his membership on the OMA webpage.  It was a consequence of a disagreement regarding the purpose (Mission Statement) of OMA.  Jerry further states that the FBI has never contacted him, though others had told him that the FBI had asked them about him.

Now, let's look at Robert M. Beecher, the government alleged co-conspirator with Jerry Bruckhart, to "kidnap and torture an [unknown] DHS agent".  Beecher has a somewhat checkered past, having been convicted of some crimes over twenty years ago, that may preclude him from owning firearms.

Beecher is 60 years of age, is a III% Commander, and has been active in the patriot community for at least a couple of years.

Regarding the controversy with the OMA, Beecher states that it had to do with a call for an armed march on Washington, D. C., OMA was supporting the march and Beecher declared it a "bad idea" and that it was "suicide to attempt to occupy D.C., armed".  Though Beecher believed in the "Mission Statement" of OMA, he felt that this action was outside of the scope of that Statement.  This is what led to Beecher removing himself from the rolls of OMA.

On May 6, 2014, FBI Special Agent Slater, a BATF agent and a local officer from Toombs County, Georgia, approached Beecher at work.  He was told that he was "not under arrest, that they needed to talk about some things".  They then asked if he knew Jerry Bruckhart of OMA.  Given the length of time since his dispute with Jerry, he took this question as a "sucker punch".  The agent said that they had received word from Pennsylvania (Jerry's home state) that he had "agreed to assist Jerry in the kidnap of a Homeland Security Agent" and were in the process of recruiting two more people to assist.  He was told that Jerry disclosed this information while being questioned on another matter.  Well, this doesn't seem to be in agreement with what Jerry has stated, though we will address that, later.

Beecher was arrested on a "Complaint", with no affidavit indicating the commission of a crime, according to his statement.  Additionally, a search warrant was served on his home.  His computers and drives were confiscated, along with a .45 pistol along with a 30-30 rifle.  This raises the question of the justification for the search.  Was it based upon the alleged conspiracy with Jerry Bruckhart?  Or, was it based upon the speculation, or proof, that he had firearms, in violation of his felony conviction, from years past? 

The search warrant (click warrant for larger image) affords no help.  According to the warrant, in "identify the person or describe the property to be searched and give its location", we find "The Residence located at 118 Pine Mountain Road, Reidsville, Georgia 30453, outbuildings, vehicles located thereon, and the person of Robert Beecher".

 Conspicuously absent is the "Attachment B", which is intended to describe what "is believed to conceal (identify the person or describe the property to be seized)"

Further on, it states, "I find that the affidavit(s), or any testimony, establish probable cause to search or seize the person or property".

The warrant appears to be signed by "M. Smith", though the "Printed name and title" bears the name "G. R. Smith", and provides no title for that person.

Now, just think about the very general nature of the warrant.  What did he do that justifies the warrant?  What, specifically, are the looking for?  Who really signed the warrant, and what is his title?

So, let's go to the remainder of Beecher's written statement:

As we got into their truck to talk, the FBI agent told me that “Just so you know, I have been following you for the past year and a half.”  He then went on to question me about my beliefs, my involvement with the militias, other websites, and what my role as Commander in the III%ers was.  He was curious as to what Operation American Spring was, who was in charge of various details involved, and who I was attending with.

[T]he FBI Agent told me I wasn’t “being truthful and at that point I was only hurting myself”, that the “Government wasn’t concerned with the preppers or survivalist, but was concerned with those willing to hurt anyone connected to the government.”  I agreed with that and told him that was why I opposed Jerry Bruckhart’s attempt to have patriots march on DC armed.  They didn’t seem too happy about that comment.

I was then placed under arrest and taken to Tattnall County where I was questioned more about various people involved in different groups and organizations.  I kept telling them I wasn’t familiar with the names, and that because I dealt with a lot of people in different parts of the country, some with the same first names, that I was unsure of who they were talking about.  Again I was told that if I helped them that they would help me, that they could help me get released if I helped them cooperate.  Around 4:30, they read me my Miranda rights, and had a deputy take me to Chatham County.  I was placed in segregation around 7:00 pm Wednesday the 7^th of May, and kept isolated until Friday when they came to get me for court.  Again they attempted to get me to agree to infiltrate W.R.A.M., Three Percenters, and Modern Militia Movement...

I was transferred to Bulloch County, the US Marshalls told me where I was going was a “hellhole” and wished me luck.  I must say that these people, the US Marshalls and the GBI [Georgia Bureau of Investigation] have been the only professionals I have dealt with...  I went to court, was declared a “menace to society”, and denied bond.

[Later] I told the agent I wasn’t sure about which group he was referring to, and that I needed to be out and access my computer before I could answer any questions.  He then told me he would bring my computer to the jail, and the attorney chimed in that I could access the info that way.  I responded in the negative and knew then there would be no bond - regardless...

The important thing for people to understand is that if they did this to me, how many others have been snatched and agreed to inform?  Good people, but outside their limits dealing with lying ass federal agents?...

Beecher concludes the above statement with, "I have sworn my oath and I will uphold it to the end.  No bended knee for me."

The search warrant that was served, with only some of the paperwork being left at Beecher's home, resulted in the confiscation of a .45 pistol and a 30-30 rifle.

Since we can't find any elements of illegal activity on the part of either Bruckhart or Beecher, nor anything that suggests any recent communication, on a level that would be required for a conspiracy charge, we must look elsewhere for any justification, or should I say, rationalization, for the events that have unfolded.  Darn, nothing wrong there.  So, let's bring in the other players.

We can start with the three that participated directly in the arrest.  We have a local officer; we have a BATF agent; and, then we have FBI Special Agent Slater.  Well, the officer was "just doing his job", so we can discount him.  Then, we have SA Slater, who brought up the suggestion of a conspiracy between Bruckhart and Beecher, which doesn't hold water.  Finally, we have the BATF agent who deals with firearms violations.  But, why was he even brought in?  Was the purpose simply a "fishing expedition", to see if they could find something that would, eventually, lead to an actual criminal charge -- if they found firearms?  If so, what could be the source of such information?  Well, it appears that there was a picture posted on Facebook showing Beecher holding what appeared to be a rifle (30-30?).  Is that grounds for a warrant?  Perhaps so, though the warrant doesn't say it is so.  Therefore, it must be far too insignificant, or in admissible, to bring any charges, or those charges would have been laid on the table from the beginning.

What other plausible explanation could be behind this whole episode, which has taken a man from his job and family, for nearly a month and a half, without even a presentation of any charge or evidence to justify these actions?

The only thing that comes to mind, and hasn't already be addressed is, perhaps, the most terrifying of all.  They used the power of the government, in contravention of the Fourth Amendment, " The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."  Unfortunately, we have no
oath or affirmation" that supports any of the activities of the government for the search.  This stinks of the concept of "Writs of Assistance" that were so appalling to the Founders, and lead to the specific inclusion of that Amendment in the Bill of Rights.

Further, we must also question the arrest, itself.  He was lied to when he was told he was not being arrested, and then was arrested.  Beecher stated (above) that he was arrested on a Complaint.  If they had a Complaint, then they knew that they were going to arrest him.  To do otherwise would be to lie, to deceive, to use chicanery, to violate the "Miranda Decision", and to violate the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, which read, in part, "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury..."  Of course, the government has circumvented the Constitution by using "Complaints", for decades.  The Framers, however, sought to leave the denial of liberty (jailing) in the hands of the people, not of the government.  Even if the government's argument for "Complaints" is valid, the intent, for "a presentment or indictment" surely requires that the charges be a part of the circumventing "Complaint", though at over 45 days in, we have no charges.

What can we conclude from this?  Well, try as I might, I can only draw one conclusion -- that the government will use the "color of law" to deny Liberty (Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness) that they are charged with protecting, and to intimidate a person who may have knowledge that they want, to entice him to turn against friends and neighbors, hoping to find some chargeable crime, and make a permanent "snitch" a member of their "team".  If Beecher were to sign a "plea agreement" to regain his Liberty, he will have made the first step into submission to the Big Brother that government has become.  To understand this process, I would suggest that you read Informants Amongst Us?  

Based upon my observation of the increase in activity of this nature, I think that I can safely predict that there is an escalation of this activity and it is likely to visit your neighborhood, in the very near future.  This makes it imperative that we heed the proudly spoken words of Robert M. Beecher, when he said,

"I have sworn my oath and I will uphold it to the end.  No bended knee for me."

 

This article can be found on line at "No bended knee for me" - the Persecution of Robert Beecher