ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Schaeffer Cox, the figure at the center of a federal trial over an alleged plot to kidnap or kill Fairbanks judges and law enforcement officers, testified in his own defense Monday afternoon.
Prosecutors say Alaska Peacemakers Militia leader Cox, along with fellow defendants Coleman Barney and Lonnie Vernon, stockpiled unregistered weapons including machine guns and hand grenades.
The weapons, which were seized during Fairbanks raids by federal agents last year, were allegedly part of a “241” plot in which militia members planned to kidnap two government officials for every member arrested, or kill two officials for every member killed by law enforcement officers.
While on the stand, Cox quoted a memorized passage each from the Declaration of Independence and the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He often launched into political philosophies during direct questioning by defense attorneys, but was repeatedly stopped by objections from prosecutors.
Cox told the court he doesn’t believe in violence, but that there are circumstances under which it may be employed.
