2 Men Charged With Trying For Wanting To Bomb Facebook and Twitter Office

Two men from California, USA have been indicted on charges of planning to blow up the California governor’s office after the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as Facebook and Twitter offices.

Both are members of an anti-government militia called the Three Percenters who support former President Donald Trump. Both are accused of conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The first man arrested was named Ian Benjamin Rogers. He was arrested on Jan. 15, just days after talking to a colleague via text message about the bombing plan.

The FBI then searched Rogers' residence and business premises and found nearly 50 firearms, some of them illegal, and five pipe bombs. His partner, Jarrod Copeland, was arrested on July 15th.

In conversations on the encrypted messaging platform, the two defendants believed that Trump won the election and was ready to go to war to defend his position.

While planning to blow up the California Governor’s office, the two also discussed plans to blow up Facebook and Twitter’s offices. According to the FBI, the second motive was revenge because Trump was banned by the two social media platforms.

“We are easily attacking Twitter and Democrats right now and burning their stuff,” Rogers wrote in his message, as quoted by The Verge, Wednesday (21/7/2021).

In addition, in a subsequent message was also written their plan to attack the 'bird' and 'face' officials after the California Governor's office.

The ‘bird’ and ‘face’ offices here are of course code for Twitter and Facebook, as Twitter has the bird logo and both companies have banned Trump after the riots at the US Capitol.

Rogers and Copeland face charges of conspiring to destroy used buildings or influencing interstate trade by fire or explosion. Rogers also faces charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and Copeland is charged with seizing evidence.

“Blowing up political opponents is illegal and does not foster a debate that creates and supports our constitutional democracy,” prosecutor Stephanie Hinds said in a statement.