USA: FBI hittat 150 bomber på familjegård. Pågående utredning sedan 2021 (2024-12-17)

Court testimony also revealed that the investigation began after Spafford lost three fingers in a July 2021 explosion. A neighbor reported him to authorities, according to the Smithfield Times, describing conversations about “preparing for something” that Spafford said he “would not be able to do alone”.

Spafford first came to the attention of authorities through a neighbor who reported the defendant was using a photo of President Biden for target practice, expressed approval for political violence and shared a conspiracy theory that missing children were taken by the federal government to be trained as school shooters.

The neighbor also said Spafford lost three fingers in 2021 while apparently working on an explosive device.

During the Monday hearing, a federal judge denied the government’s motion for detention. The judge ordered Spafford released with restrictions such as electronic monitoring and a requirement that Spafford stay with his mother. Federal prosecutors requested an immediate stay of his release order, which was granted by the judge. Following the order, prosecutors filed additional evidence for reconsideration of release which is being reviewed by the judge.

On Tuesday, Spafford’s lawyer filed a response to DOJ’s motion, stating in part, “The United States’ position that Mr. Spafford is a danger is rank speculation and fear mongering. There is not a shred of evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone and the contention that someone might be in danger because of their political views and comments is nonsensical. In fact, the evidence proved that Mr. Spafford is not a danger but a hard-working family man with no criminal record.”