By Caitlin Andrews
candrews@fosters.com
Posted Mar. 3, 2016 at 12:35 PM
ROCHESTER — Local Tea Party leader Jerry DeLemus, of Rochester, has been arrested by federal agents in connection with his affiliation with the Cliven Bundy standoff in Nevada in 2014.
DeLemus is facing nine felony charges out of Nevada, including: conspiracy to commit an offense against the United State; conspiracy to impede and injure a federal officer; assault on a federal officer; threatening a federal law enforcement officer; use and carry of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence; obstruction of the due administration of justice; interference with interstate commerce by extortion; interstate travel in aid of extortion; and aiding and abetting, according to a 64-page federal document.
The indictments stem from a massive armed assault against federal law enforcement officers that occurred in and around Bunkerville, Nevada, on April 12, 2014, according to federal documents. DeLemus allegedly took part in the planning, organization, and/or participated as a gunman in the assault, all in order to threaten, intimidate, and extort the officers into abandoning approximately 400 head of cattle that were in their care and custody, federal documents allege. The federal government claims DeLemus drove out to Nevada as a resident of New Hampshire to take part in the stand-off.
Delemus' wife, state Rep. Susan DeLemus, confirmed on Thursday that federal officials had arrested her husband earlier that morning, but had no other comment.
DeLemus is a co-chairman for Veterans for Donald Trump in New Hampshire and is one of the founders of the Rochester 9/12 Project, an organization devoted to discussing issues the United States faces in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
DeLemus attempted to start a “Draw Muhammad” contest last summer, which he later cancelled because he said he had spread his message of protecting constitutional rights without hold the event. A similar event in Texas resulted in an act of terrorism.
http://www.fosters.com/article/20160303/NEWS/160309716