SILVER SPRING, MD — A U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant accused of being a “domestic terrorist” with plans to murder a list of Democratic lawmakers and journalists was ordered to remain in detention, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
Federal Magistrate Judge Charles Day ordered 49-year-old Christopher Paul Hasson to be detained for 14 more days, while prosecutors gather enough information to file terror-related charges against him. If the prosecution cannot find more charges, the defense can file another motion for Hasson’s release.
Hasson, a self-proclaimed white nationalist from Silver Spring, was arrested on illegal firearm and drug charges on Feb. 15. However, federal prosecutors say these charges are the “proverbial tip of the iceberg.” A search of the basement apartment he shares with his wife turned up 15 firearms and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
According to court documents filed by prosecutors, Hasson planned attacks on the U.S. and targeted presidential candidates Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York; Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts; Cory Booker, D-New Jersey; and Kamala Harris, D-California. Other prominent public figures on the list included MSNBC’s Chris Hayes and Joe Scarborough and CNN’s Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo.
“The defendant is a domestic terrorist, bent on committing acts dangerous to human life that are intended to affect governmental conduct,” officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland said.
Court records did not reveal when Hasson planned to strike, but said he has been stockpiling supplies since 2017. Authorities claim that Hasson wanted to establish a “white homeland.”
In court on Thursday, federal prosecutor Jennifer Sykes said Hasson used his government computer at work to search for people such as the Virginia Tech gunman, the Unabomber, and Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, who was convicted in 2011 of killing 77 people in two terror attacks.
“This is not an isolated activity,” Sykes said. “This is something that is being done for hours on end while he is at work.”
Hasson was working as an acquisitions officer at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. before he was arrested. When agents searched his workplace, they also found at least 100 pills believed to be a narcotic called Tramadol.
According to court documents, Hasson amassed the narcotics “to increase his ability to conduct attacks,” which was in line with Breivik’s manifesto.
On Thursday, public defender Julie Stelzig called the court documents filed against her client “inflammatory,” saying the “15-page document is throwing a whole bunch of stuff against the wall and hoping it will stick.”
The government — however — says Hasson has espoused extremist views for years, and that his internet searches, firearms and narcotic purchases, and emails make him a danger to the community.
In a June 2017 draft email authorities found in his “Deletions” subfolder, Hasson wrote that he blamed “liberalist/globalist ideology for destroying traditional peoples, especially white (people)” and dreamed “of a way to kill almost every last person on the earth.”
The following is an excerpt of Hasson’s draft email, per the court filing:
“Have to take serious look at appropriate individual targets, to bring greatest impact. Professors, DR’s, Politian’s, Judges, leftists in general.
Look up tactics used during Ukrainian civil war. During unrest target both sides to increase tension. In other words provoke gov/police to over react which should help to escalate violence. BLM protests or other left crap would be ideal to incite to violence.
Gun rights people will never rise, need religious to stand up. Please send me your violence that I may unleash it onto their heads. Guide my hate to make a lasting impression on this world. So be it. I don’t know if there truly is a “conspiracy” of ((((People)))) out to destroy me and mine, but there is an attack none the less. For that reason I will strike, I can’t just strike to wound I must find a way to deliver a blow that cannot be shaken off. Maybe many blows that will cause the needed turmoil.”
Authorities said Hasson sent himself another email in September of 2017, which he wrote to an American neo-Nazi leader. In the email, Hasson says, “I am a long time White Nationalist, having been a skinhead 30 plus years ago before my time in the military.”
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