TUKWILA, Wash. — The mother of a Washington man being held by federal authorities defended her son against any implication he was planning an act of domestic terrorism.
While Schuyler Barbeau was not arrested on a domestic terror charge, the FBI is treating him as a terror risk.
Federal officers in tactical gear patrolled the Seattle Courthouse Monday morning as people calling themselves part of the "Patriot Movement" attended Barbeau’s detention hearing.
The case was mentioned by FBI Special Agent in Charge Frank Montoya, Jr. when he met with reporters on Friday.
“We recently arrested an individual on a domestic terrorism charge and that has caused us come concern, in the sense how are his followers, his friends, how are they going to react,” Montoya said.
Soft-spoken in court, Barbeau is being held on a firearms charge. But the FBI said he discussed with confidential sources about lynching public servants and removing a California judge who presided over a weapons violation.
His mother and brother were in court. They called Barbeau a patriot, but not a domestic terrorist.
“Absolutely not, that is absolutely ridiculous,” said his mother, Stacy Milam.
They said Barbeau is a Marine who also served in the Washington National Guard and as they see it, he is still defending their country.
“He gets pretty, he gets pretty emotional I think, when things are happening, injustices are happening around him and he tends to say some things that maybe I wouldn't,” Milam said
Dave Neiwert is the author of "In God's Country, The Patriot Movement and the Pacific Northwest."
“The patriot movement is a far right wing anti-government movement. Their chief strategy is forming militias,” he said.