FBI Warns U.S. Governors on Extremist Group Letters

More than 30 governors have received threats in the last week.

ByABC News
April 2, 2010, 11:02 AM

April 2, 2010— -- In the past week over 30 state governors have received letters from an anti-government group demanding their resignations or they could be "removed."

The letters allegedly came from a group called the Guardians of the Free Republics.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued an intelligence note about the mailings and said that while there was no specific threat linked to the letters, "law enforcement should be aware that this could be interpreted as a justification for violence or other criminal actions."

The intelligence note issued on Wednesday was sent to 18,000 law enforcement agencies around the United States. The FBI has also advised all 50 governors they could be receiving the letters, in addition to the 30-35 that have already received them.

The group that allegedly sent the letters states on its Web site that they have a plan to "Restore America" which includes, "a bold achievable strategy for behind-the-scenes peaceful reconstruction of the de jure institutions of government without controversy, violence or civil war. After consultation with high ranking members of the United States armed forces, the Plan is in the process of assembling the Guardians of the Free Republics." The site contains complaints about taxes and the IRS as well.

Federal law enforcement officials said that the letters were non-threatening in nature, but made demands for their resignations. One DHS official said that some of the letters claim the group will commandeer government offices if the governors don't resign, and an FBI official said the letter discussed the governors being "removed."