Posted on 04/08/2010 4:51:54 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Authorities: Zeta plot to abduct a U.S. elected official nothing but rumors
Legislators have been warned to take extra precautions and avoid travel south of the border in light of threats that a Mexican drug trafficking organization could be planning to abduct a U.S. elected official.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has briefed several members of the Valley’s state legislative delegation on intelligence reports suggesting the Zetas could be plotting such an attack in an effort to establish their dominance and express frustration over recent U.S. efforts in Mexico’s ongoing war against its drug cartels, according to state officials.
But local and federal law enforcement agencies said Thursday that the threat had been investigated and discounted.
The Monitor contacted several state representatives from the Rio Grande Valley who confirmed last month’s DPS briefings, but none would speak on the record claiming fear for their own safety.
Some reported taking precautions like driving different routes to their offices, keeping a lower profile and avoiding publicly talking about Mexican violence.
“Everybody is on guard,” one of the officials said.
A DPS spokesman said that the agency would not confirm or deny that any discussions with lawmakers had taken place. But at least some Valley legislators maintained that they had received no official warning.
“I’ve heard about this,” said State Rep. Ismael “Kino” Flores, D-Palmview. “But as far as I know, it’s been strictly puro rumors.”
Last month, an FBI informant reported he was asked by the Zetas to find an individual – either a local legislator or a federal judge – suitable for kidnapping, according to those who had been briefed on the original threat.
Law enforcement officials said Thursday that the information came from one source with limited access to the cartel and is has largely been discounted.
“The FBI receives threat information on a regular basis,” said John Johnson, head of the FBI’s McAllen office, while declining to talk about any specific threat. “We disseminate this information to our federal, state and local partners in an abundance of caution. But in some cases, after vetting (it) further it is determined that the source information was not credible or that the information was not corroborated.”
.
But the REAL threat is the bitter taxpayers clinging to their faith over at the tea party.
I wish they would kidnap a whole mess of them!
Bet they’re all packin’ now.
Zetas ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Rumor or not, I can see it happening. Look what they’ve done to the Mexican authorities/police? Scary.
If the local elected representatives won't talk about the Mexican violence then the 'rumor' already did it's job. If you needed actual proof of 'spillover' here it is - writ large. By the way, they are all democrats.
“puro” rumors?
Spanglish.
Ping!
But why? Who in his right mind would pay ransom for a politician?
I am sure it must be just a nasty rumor, after all these cartel guys have never kidnapped or murdered authorities in their own country...(do I need the sarcasm tag?)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.