Skinheads In Obama Assassination Plot

OCTOBER 27--Two white supremacists who plotted a 'killing spree' targeting African Americans that was to culminate with the murder of Senator Barack Obama have been arrested on a variety of federal charges.

According to a court affidavit sworn out by a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent, Daniel Cowart, 20, and Paul Schlesselman, 18, began discussing the murder plot after meeting online about a month ago. In the ATF affidavit, a copy of which you'll find here, Cowart and Schlesselman 'discussed the killing spree to include targeting a predominately African-American school, going state to state while robbing individuals and continuing to kill people.'

The pair's 'final act of violence' would be an attempt to kill Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee. In separate interviews with investigators, the men said that they planned to speed their vehicle toward Obama while 'shooting at him from the windows.' Apparently befitting the historic assault, Cowart and Schlesselman 'stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt.'

Cowart and Schlesselman were arrested last Wednesday night by Tennessee sheriff's deputies soon after the pair used chalk to write 'numerous racially motivated words and symbols,' including a swastika, on the exterior of Cowart's automobile.

Cowart (left) and Schlesselman are pictured in these mug shots snapped by the Crockett County Sheriff's Department. As a result of their bizarre plot, the wannabe assassins were named in a three-count federal felony complaint, a copy of which you'll find here. (5 pages)