A federal judge in Tennessee has refused to dismiss charges against accused white supremacist Paul Schlesselman.  AP reports that Paul Schlesselman of Arkansas and Daniel Cowart of Tennessee “are charged with planning a killing spree targeting black victims that would end with an attack on Obama.”

Additional reports of this story are found at the Memphis Commercial Appeal, NWTN, and Volunteer TV. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that “If convicted on all counts, Schlesselman and Cowart face up to 50 years in prison.”

Additional information on the background, charges, and history of accused white supremacists Paul Schlesselman and Daniel Cowart can be found in True Crime Report story,  CBS News Investigative Report, Report “Skinheads in Obama Assassination Plot,” SPLC report, Wikipedia report, and newslinks at Against Racial Supremacism Yahoo news group.

Online version of the three count federal felony affidavit of complaint is also available on four pages: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4.   Three pages of the affidavit are also available in PDF format online.

According to this federal felony affidavit:

— “Each individual  claims to have very strong beliefs and views regarding ‘White Power’ and ‘Skinhead’ views.  The individuals began discussing going on a ‘killing spree’ that included killing 88 people and beheading 14 African Americans.”
— The accused “discussed the killing spree to include targeting a predominantly African-American school going state to state while robbing individuals and continuing to kill people.”
—  “They further stated that their final act of violence would be to attempt to kill/assassinate Presidential Candidate Barack Obama.”
— In October 2008, the affidavit also states “while driving around Cowart and Schlesselman observed a church and decide to shoot a window out.”  The affidavit identifies the target as the Beech Grove Church of Christ in Brownsville, Tennessee.