Explosive Allegations: Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sworn statements filed in Federal Court also allege that Blackwater founder Erik Prince launched a "crusade" to eliminate Muslims and Islam.

By Jeremy Scahill, The Nation

A former Blackwater employee and an ex-U.S. Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."

In their testimony, both men also allege that Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq. One of the men alleges that Prince turned a profit by transporting "illegal" or "unlawful" weapons into the country on Prince's private planes. They also charge that Prince and other Blackwater executives destroyed incriminating videos, emails and other documents and have intentionally deceived the U.S. State Department and other federal agencies. The identities of the two individuals were sealed out of concerns for their safety.

These allegations, and a series of other charges, are contained in sworn affidavits, given under penalty of perjury, filed late at night on August 3 in the Eastern District of Virginia as part of a seventy-page motion by lawyers for Iraqi civilians suing Blackwater for alleged war crimes and other misconduct. Susan Burke, a private attorney working in conjunction with the Center for Constitutional Rights, is suing Blackwater in five separate civil cases filed in the Washington, DC, area. They were recently consolidated before Judge T.S. Ellis III of the Eastern District of Virginia for pretrial motions. Burke filed the August 3 motion in response to Blackwater's motion to dismiss the case. Blackwater asserts that Prince and the company are innocent of any wrongdoing and that they were professionally performing their duties on behalf of their employer, the U.S. State Department.

The former employee, identified in the court documents as "John Doe #2," is a former member of Blackwater's management team, according to a source close to the case. Doe #2 alleges in a sworn declaration that, based on information provided to him by former colleagues, "it appears that Mr. Prince and his employees murdered, or had murdered, one or more persons who have provided information, or who were planning to provide information, to the federal authorities about the ongoing criminal conduct." John Doe #2 says he worked at Blackwater for four years; his identity is concealed in the sworn declaration because he "fear violence against me in retaliation for submitting this Declaration." He also alleges, "On several occasions after my departure from Mr. Prince's employ, Mr. Prince's management has personally threatened me with death and violence."

In a separate sworn statement, the former U.S. marine who worked for Blackwater in Iraq alleges that he has "learned from my Blackwater colleagues and former colleagues that one or more persons who have provided information, or who were planning to provide information about Erik Prince and Blackwater have been killed in suspicious circumstances." Identified as "John Doe #1," he says he "joined Blackwater and deployed to Iraq to guard State Department and other American government personnel." It is not clear if Doe #1 is still working with the company as he states he is "scheduled to deploy in the immediate future to Iraq." Like Doe #2, he states that he fears "violence" against him for "submitting this Declaration." No further details on the alleged murder(s) are provided.

"Mr. Prince feared, and continues to fear, that the federal authorities will detect and prosecute his various criminal deeds," states Doe #2. "On more than one occasion, Mr. Prince and his top managers gave orders to destroy emails and other documents. Many incriminating videotapes, documents and emails have been shredded and destroyed."

http://www.alternet.org/rights/141763/expl...ted_in_murder_/

[Chica Yeyé 41]

The dude runs a "legal" mercenary operation... why would this be a surprise?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Encouraging the growth of the private military sector was a big mistake.

Prince sounds about as radical in his ideology as the terrorists!

[alienlovechild 75]

The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company.

The nameless victims. Not a strong case.

The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."

Somebody forgot to tell the writer the Iraqi government the U.S. is supporting is largely made up of Muslims so the setting up a crusader state isn't very likely.

Like Doe #2, he states that he fears "violence" against him for "submitting this Declaration." No further details on the alleged murder(s) are provided.

Haven't these Does heard of the witness protection program. BTW, how many cases are there lately of corporations killing whistleblowers with hitmen?

If it goes to trail, then you'll get a better story beyond Olbermann's breathless updates on anything from the last administration. Somebody needs to tell him there was some kind of election a while back.

[mendeleev 68]

The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company.

The nameless victims. Not a strong case.

The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."

Somebody forgot to tell the writer the Iraqi government the U.S. is supporting is largely made up of Muslims so the setting up a crusader state isn't very likely.

Like Doe #2, he states that he fears "violence" against him for "submitting this Declaration." No further details on the alleged murder(s) are provided.

Haven't these Does heard of the witness protection program. BTW, how many cases are there lately of corporations killing whistleblowers with hitmen?

If it goes to trail, then you'll get a better story beyond Olbermann's breathless updates on anything from the last administration. Somebody needs to tell him there was some kind of election a while back.

Surprised to see alien defend the undefendable quite so quickly. In a perverse way, he is pretty good.

[William33 110]

A clear case of USG contract profiteering, with no expectation of backlash. Well, here is your backlash MF......Pay up....

[ready4ONE 5,400]

The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company.

The nameless victims. Not a strong case.

The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."

Somebody forgot to tell the writer the Iraqi government the U.S. is supporting is largely made up of Muslims so the setting up a crusader state isn't very likely.

Like Doe #2, he states that he fears "violence" against him for "submitting this Declaration." No further details on the alleged murder(s) are provided.

Haven't these Does heard of the witness protection program. BTW, how many cases are there lately of corporations killing whistleblowers with hitmen?

If it goes to trail, then you'll get a better story beyond Olbermann's breathless updates on anything from the last administration. Somebody needs to tell him there was some kind of election a while back.

Surprised to see alien defend the undefendable quite so quickly. In a perverse way, he is pretty good.

I was surprised he admitted there had been an election a while back! That is perverse!