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Coast Guard officer jailed as prosecutors build terror case

The Associated Press

GREENBELT, Md. — A Coast Guard officer suspected of drawing up a hit list of top Democrats and network TV journalists spent hours on his work computer researching the words and deeds of infamous bombers and mass shooters while also stockpiling weapons, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Lt. Christopher Paul Has­son, 49, was ordered held without bail on drug and gun charges while prosecutors gather evidence to support more serious charges involving what they portrayed as a domestic terror plot by a man who espoused white-suprema­cist views.

Hasson, a former Marine who worked at Coast Guard headquarters in Washing­ton on a program to acquire advanced new cutters for the agency, was arrested last week. Investi­gators gave no immediate details on how or when he came to their attention.

Federal agents found 15 guns, including several rifles, and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition inside his basement apartment in Silver Spring, Maryland.

In court papers this week, federal prosecutors said he compiled what appeared to be a computer-spreadsheet hit list that included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen­ate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and presidential hopefuls Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, Eliza­beth Warren, Cory Booker and Kamala Harris.

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