Former Canadian army reservist and accused white supremacist Patrik Mathews was denied bail following an appearance Wednesday morning in a U.S. court.
Mathews and two other men were arrested last week after the former combat engineer disappeared from his residence in Manitoba amid allegations he was a recruiter for a white-supremacist group called The Base.
“The defendants expressed hateful, racist views about African-Americans and Jewish-Americans and sought out others of like mind,” U.S. Attorney Robert Hur said outside the court.
He is facing one count of transporting a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony and one charge of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Prosecutors allege in documents filed in court that Mathews videotaped himself advocating for killing people, poisoning water supplies and derailing trains.
“(They) took steps to act and act violently on their racist views,” Hur said. “They acquired long guns, a machine gun and ammunition.”
Prosecutors also allege Mathews and one of his co-accused discussed planning violence at a pro-gun rally in Virginia held Monday.
“Mr Mathews recorded a video urging his fellow white supremacists to derail trains, murder people, and poison water supplies in order to spark what he called a violent revolution for the white race,” Hur said.”
The U.S. Department of Justice released a 29-page document Tuesday outlining evidence in their case and called it a “domestic terrorism investigation.”
It includes a transcript of a recorded video calling for a “violent revolution.”
On Aug. 31, 2019 Mathews was seen buying a burner phone at a Walmart in the U.S. He paid in cash. It’s believed his co-accused picked him up the day prior in Michigan.
The video was among several featuring Mathews found by police during a covert search of his Delaware hideout last December.
“This adversary is one who hides in plain sight, wears many faces and who is on our own soil,” Special Agent Jennifer Boone said. “What sets him apart is his desire to do harm to those who do not look like him or believe as he believes.”
Wearing a gas mask to disguise his voice, Mathews allegedly spoke about fleeing to the U.S. after his involvement in right-wing extremism became publicly known.
He also espoused racism, violence and anti-Semitism in the videos, prosecutors alleged.
“The time for talk has ended,” he said in one of the videos, according to a transcript filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland to bolster his continued detention while he awaits trial.
After being denied bail Mathews’ lawyer spoke briefly.
“Mr. Mathews’ statements should be considered in the context of him exercising his First Amendment rights,” Joseph Balter said. “They come within the context of free speech and should be viewed upon it in that way.”
–With files from The Canadian Press