By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com
The FBI foiled an upstate New York man’s plot to blow himself up on the National Mall in Washington D.C. on Election Day.
Paul M. Rosenfeld, 56, of Tappan, faces up to 20 years in prison on charges of unlawful manufacturing of a destructive device and interstate transportation and receipt of an explosive.
FBI agents arrested Rosenfeld after pulling him over while he was driving last week.
The bureau was acting on information from a reporter in Pennsylvania who had received letters and text messages from Rosenfeld saying he planned to blow himself up on the National Mall, NBC News reports. Rosenfeld said he wanted to call attention to his belief in “sortition,” the ancient practice of randomly selecting political officials from a large pool of candidates.
The reporter notified authorities.
Federal officials said Rosenfeld confessed to the plot and told FBI agents that he had purchased black powder online and built a bomb in his basement.
During a search of his home, agents found a 200-pound bomb and explosive black powder.
“Had he been successful, Rosenfeld’s alleged plot could have claimed the lives of innocent bystanders and caused untold destruction,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney.
