A leaked memo from the Department of Homeland Security lists possible motives and political connections the Arizona shooter may have had. The list includes a suspected link to the right-wing hate group "American Renaissance," known for its anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-government rhetoric. Full memo after the fold.
"The investigation has been taken over by the FBI, and is being run through the Tucson Command Post. Here's what can be confirmed at this time (1800 hrs)... * Gabrielle Giffords Is in ICU.* Federal judge John Roll is deceased. He did rule on a 32 million dollar civil rights lawsuit in February, 2010. That ruling brought death threats to Roll and his family, and for a time he was given a protection detail.* 6 deaths attributed to the shooting. 19 total people hit by gunfire.* suspect’s mother works for the Pima County Board of Supervisors* the suspect has multiple arrests ... But no criminal record? Intervention by someone?* no direct connection - but strong suspicion is being directed at AmRen / American Renaissance. Suspect is possibly linked to this group. (through videos posted on his myspace and YouTube account.). The group’s ideology is anti government, anti immigration, anti ZOG (Zionist Occupational Government), anti Semitic. Gabrielle Gifford is the first Jewish female elected to such a high position in the US government. She was also opposite this group’s ideology when it came to immigration debate.* DHS have a list of names and dates of birth of all victims.* the ACTIC is still playing a major role in the investigation... Computer forensics is cleaning up the surveillance videos, and images from around the scene, and involved in the investigation - working together, was MCSO, DPS, Phoenix PD, ICE, and of course the FBI. It did just come in from the command post, that the federal judge was Not originally scheduled to attend the meeting, according to wife. She stated that he received a phone call about an hour before and was invited to attend. Wrong place - wrong time. For the planning side, there are impromptu memorials popping up all over the state, but the largest one is downtown phoenix, at the capital."
Memo leaked to Fox News' Jennifer Griffin/Greta Van Sustren.
The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the hate-group as emanating from the white nationalist hate-group "New Century Foundation":
New Century Foundation is a self-styled think tank that promotes pseudo-scientific studies and research that purport to show the inferiority of blacks to whites — although in hifalutin language that avoids open racial slurs and attempts to portray itself as serious scholarship. It is best known for its American Renaissance magazine and website, which regularly feature proponents of eugenics and blatant anti-black racists. The foundation also sponsors American Renaissance conferences every other year where racist "intellectuals" rub shoulders with Klansmen, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists.
If there's anything to be gleaned from all the conflicting reports about the murderer's political leanings, it is the thread of supposed intellectualism mixed with anti-government rambling. In his internet postings, repeated concerns about conspiracy theories and the (supposed lack of) intelligence of his neighbors are prominent. The government is said to be controlling language, people's minds, etc.
I haven't seen other posts about the killer's possible antisemitism. If these reports are true, it is conceivable that the murderer had extensive knowledge of radical right-wing ideology and groups.
Representative Giffords is the first Jewish woman elected to Congress from Arizona and the third woman in the state's history.