Governors of Ohio and Pa. receive threatening letters

April 3, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Pa. Gov. Ed Rendell are among at least 30 governors targeted by threatening letters calling on them to leave office.

Strickland’s office says it received the letter early this week from Guardians of the free Republics. The office did not release a copy.

Spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said the letter had been turned over to federal authorities. According to an FBI warning, the letter told governors to leave office within three days or they would be removed.

Rendell’s spokesman Gary Tuma said Friday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had notified the office such a letter would arrive.

The group’s Web site says it wants to restore America by peacefully dismantling parts of the government. Investigators do not see threats of violence in the letters but are concerned they could prompt others to be violent.

The FBI is warning police that the call to remove governors could provoke violence.

The group called the Guardians of the free Republics says on its Web site that it wants to “restore America” by peacefully dismantling parts of the government.

The FBI expects all 50 governors will receive such letters.