Man Who Planned to Kill Obama to be Extradited to South Dakota; ACLU Balks
MILWAUKEE (Reuters) – A 41-year-old man who told investigators he planned to eventually assassinate President Barack Obama awaited possible extradition to South Dakota on Wednesday on charges including murder linked to the plot, prosecutors said. The American Civil Liberties Union is looking to block the extradition on the grounds that it is cruel and unusual punishment.
ACLU: "This perfectly normal man may have strayed from the straight and narrow by slitting a woman's throat, but don't send him back to South Dakota!"
James Vernon McVay told authorities after he was arrested near Madison that the killing of a 75-year-old woman was the first of several he intended to commit as he traveled to Washington, D.C., where he planned to use a rifle to kill Obama, according to a South Dakota criminal complaint. ACLU spokesperson Sadie Shloblotnick said, “While we don’t condone the murder of the old lady, we simply cannot allow the government to make Mr. McVay return to South Dakota for any reason. I mean, why not pull his fingernails out while you’re at it!”
“I’m going to kill and kill until I get him,” McVay told investigators, referring to the president.
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said that in 2009, while in jail in Nebraska, McVay had also made threatening statements toward protectees of the Secret Service. “He threatened to find Nancy Regan and say not only Yes to drugs, but ‘Fuck Yes To Drugs.’ And he threatened to give the presidential dog ‘a bone, if you know what I mean.’ “
“During interviews with him, he later recanted the statements that were brought to our attention,” Donovan said. “Our Madison office is currently conferring with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Wisconsin on the direction of the case. Once the mention of South Dakota came up he denied everything saying ‘I’m hoping to join the jail choir. I’ll send your mother flowers, just don’t send me back to fuckin’ South Dakota.’”
Obama: "Even I don't want to go to South Dakota!"
On June 30, hours after being released from a community transition program, McVay walked to a Wal-Mart, where he stole clothing and knives. McVay, who is on parole, told authorities he slept under a bridge until dawn the next day. There is some question as to whether the community transition program worked for McVay.
McVay selected Maybell Schein’s house to break into and commit the crime because he saw a garage door slightly ajar and a vehicle in the garage, the complaint said, adding that he “was going to kill people whenever the opportunity arose”. ACLU spokesperson Shloblotnick said, “Come on. Garage door slightly ajar? Vehicle in the garage? She was asking for it!!!”
Asked to comment, President Obama said, “Shit, man. Even I don’t want to go to South Dakota!”
