(Newser)
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On the heels of today's revelation that four US soldiers allegedly planned to overthrow the federal government and kill President Obama (and killed two people in order to keep its plans secret), more revelations. The AP relays more details shared today by prosecutors, who were in court as one of the Fort Stewart soldiers charged in the case, Pfc. Michael Burnett, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and made a deal to cooperate with prosecutors against the three other soldiers. Among the new revelations:
- Prosecutors said the group called itself FEAR, short for Forever Enduring Always Ready. Authorities don't know how many members it had.
- Burnett, 26, agreed to testify against fellow soldiers Pvt. Isaac Aguigui, identified by prosecutors as the militia's founder and leader, and Sgt. Anthony Peden and Pvt. Christopher Salmon. A hearing for the three soldiers was scheduled for Thursday.
- Aguigui reportedly funded the militia using $500,000 in insurance and benefit payments from the death of his pregnant wife a year ago. Aguigui was not charged in his wife's death, but the prosecutor told the judge her death was "highly suspicious."
- In addition to using the money to buy $87,000 worth of semiautomatic assault rifles, other guns, and bomb components, he also used the insurance payments to buy land for his militia group in Washington state, said the prosecutor.
- Aguigui called himself "the nicest cold-blooded murderer you will ever meet." And also a former Republican? Gawker reports that Aguigui appears to have attended the 2008 Republican National Convention as a page.
- Militia members wore distinctive tattoos that resemble an anarchy symbol.
- In addition to FEAR's plans to take over Fort Stewart, the group plotted to bomb a dam in Washington state and poison the state's apple crop. Ultimately, prosecutors said, the militia's goal was to overthrow the government and assassinate the president.
