Gerald Leonard Drake, a former Civil War reenactor, pleaded guilty yesterday to planting a pipe bomb and making threats against Cedar Creek Battlefield in September, 2017. Drake’s letters claimed to be from “Antifa” a loosely organized anti-racist and anti-fascist network. Drake had participated in reenactments at the battlefield, but he was thrown out of his reenactment group in 2014. Subsequently he volunteered at the battlefield. He continued to write threatening letters in 2017 and 2018. He also made threats of violence against the Remembrance Day Parade in Gettysburg. Again, he falsely claimed to be writing on behalf of Antifa.
Drake is 63 years old and he faces up to ten years in prison.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said:
“Our highest priority at the Department of Justice is to keep our nation safe. This defendant sought to intimidate and harm innocent people, and further, he tried to sow discontent by falsely claiming that the attempted bombing was politically motivated. I am deeply grateful to the first responders for their work to quickly neutralize the bomb, as well as the special agents of the FBI and the federal prosecutors who – for years – tirelessly worked this case to identify Mr. Drake and bring him to justice.”
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Christ, what an asshole.