He looks ordinary. He could be your neighbor. But he’s nuts, armed, and wants you dead.
Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr. (photo, left), owner of an Atlanta car wash business, may be such a person. His words and actions certainly portray him that way.
He didn’t participate in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, but not for want of trying; he arrived late because his trailer, carrying guns and ammunition, needed repairs en route. FBI agents arrested him at a Washington D.C.-area motel on January 7.
Federal prosecutors have charged Meredith with threatening to kill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and asked a judge to hold him without bail. He claims he isn’t a violent person, but his text messages are full of threats and references to violence, and he’s armed to the teeth.
Meredith has paid for billboards promoting the false QAnon conspiracy movement, describes himself as a “gung ho” Trump supporter, went to a BLM protest carrying an assault rifle (suggesting that, contrary to his denials, he looks for trouble), and has spoken of “civil war” and executing Trump opponents.
He could be a poster boy for the deluded — and arguably mentally ill — QAnon followers who say they’re willing to kill for Trump. Why shouldn’t authorities take them at their word, when they go around with firearms, and assault cops? In this country, it’s true, you can’t be prosecuted for thoughts, although you can sometimes be prosecuted for words, if they constitute threats — not all speech is protected by the First Amendment. And you definitely can be prosecuted for illegal possession of firearms. The federal charges against Meredith include:
- Transmitting a threat in interstate commerce
- Possession of an unregistered firearm
- Unlawful possession of ammunition
Read story and view photos of his arsenal here. Read the details of his arrest here.