BROWNS SAY THEY WON'T SURRENDER

Browns Say They Won't Surrender

Ruby Ridge Survivor Weaver Speaks At Press Conference

POSTED: 11:46 am EDT June 18, 2007

UPDATED: 6:07 pm EDT June 18, 2007

PLAINFIELD, N.H. --
A Plainfield couple convicted of tax evasion held a press conference Monday in which they and their supporters reiterated their belief that they are not required to pay taxes.

"For many years, many thousands of people have been asking the (Internal Revenue Service) to show them the law requiring the average American to pay tax on the fruits of their labor," said Elaine Brown. "They have never done so."

Ed and Elaine Brown have been holed up in their Plainfield home since they were each sentenced to more than five years in prison in April on federal tax evasion charges. The press conference was held outside their home on their 110-acre property.

Elaine Brown said that there was no possibility that they would surrender.

"If they come in, we're dead. That's it," she said. "We will not be arrested. We will not volunteer to go into their prison for a non-crime. We have committed no crime."

The Browns were joined by Ruby Ridge survivor Randy Weaver, whose wife and son were killed along with a deputy U.S. marshal in the Idaho standoff in 1992. Weaver said that he was concerned that a similar event could occur in Plainfield.

"This is why I'm here," Weaver said. "Because if this gets out of control, it's going to happen here."

An emotional Weaver drew parallels between the Ruby Ridge standoff and law-enforcement activities in Plainfield earlier this month, when armored vehicles and bomb-disposal units arrived at the property while a warrant was served at a commercial property owned by the couple in Lebanon.

"This is serious stuff. Bring it on," Weaver said.

Ed Brown dismissed the police as "mercenaries" and the media gathered for the press conference as "order-takers." He said law enforcement officers were using the excuse of just following orders as they engaged in a waiting game with the Browns.

"All police officers today in this nation are mercenaries," he said. "They are all guns for hire."

U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier has stated that there were no plans to storm the property or attempt to take the Browns by force. He said that they are trying to encourage them to surrender, and officials last week cut power, phone and Internet service to the property.

In a press release issued Monday, the U.S. Marshals Service said that it is still trying to resolve the matter without violence.

"The U.S. Marshals Service is committed to resolving this peacefully," the statement read. "Edward and Elaine Brown can end this today by doing the right thing, which is to call us and make arrangements for their surrender."

Ed and Elaine Brown said Monday that they would be able to stay indefinitely in their house, which has solar and wind power sources.

In the meantime, Plainfield residents and officials said they are getting increasingly anxious about the situation. Selectmen recently sent a letter to federal officials stating that they believe the time has come for definitive action.

U.S. marshals recently held a stakeout near the Browns' property, and the letter expressed concern that no local officials knew about it, according to state Sen. Peter Burling.

"The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office knew nothing, and the Plainfield police chief, who is superb, had no warning at all," Burling said.

Laura Ward and her daughter live near the Browns, and she said the ongoing situation has become stressful.

"It does kind of make you worry because I am not sure how long they intend to have it go on," she said.

Several supporters of the Browns are staying with them, and many are thought to be armed, officials said. Some residents said that they hope that however it gets resolved, it happens soon.

"If you like celebrity, it's a good time to be in Plainfield, but most of us don't," resident Craig Wehde said.

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