Neo-Nazis' associate discusses alleged plot to assassinate Barack Obama
Nathan Johnson tells a Denver TV station that two men he knows had talked of killing Obama during the candidate's Democratic National Convention speech. Johnson and the men have been arrested.
DENVER — A man arrested with two neo-Nazis who spoke of assassinating Illinois Sen. Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention said in a jailhouse interview with a local television station that he was unsure whether the plot would have been carried out.
"I don't want to say yes, but I don't want to say no," Nathan Johnson, 32, told Denver's CBS affiliate in an interview broadcast this morning.
It remained unclear how serious Johnson's associates, Tharin Gartrell, 28, and Shawn Robert Adolf, 33, were about trying to kill Obama, the first black likely to be nominated for president by a major party. U.S. Atty. Troy Eid released a statement saying "there is no credible threat to the candidate, the Democratic National Convention, or the people of Colorado."
Authorities are expected to release more details at an afternoon news conference here.
In the interview, Johnson said he told police that Gartrell and Adolf had talked about killing Obama during the senator's acceptance speech Thursday night at a football stadium in downtown Denver.
Johnson said the men believe Obama should not be a candidate for president. "Blacks don't belong in political office," Johnson said. "He should be shot."
Police spotted Gartrell early Sunday weaving through traffic while driving a rented pickup truck in the suburb of Aurora. When they stopped him, they found two rifles, a sniper scope, walkie-talkies, ammunition and methamphetamines, according to Det. Marcus Dudley of the Aurora Police Department.
Police tracked down Johnson in a Denver hotel, then Adolf in a separate hotel in Aurora. As they approached, Adolf jumped out of his sixth-story hotel room and tried to flee despite a broken ankle. He was arrested.
Gartrell is on probation for drug violations and Adolf has a record of burglary and other charges, according to court records. Adolf is listed by the Weld County Sheriff's Department as one of the county's "25 most wanted" in crimes that include forgery, aggravated motor vehicle theft and drug violations.
nicholas.riccardi@latimes.com
