Link Between Accused Tax Protester, Bombing Attempt Probed

The FBI is looking into possible links between an apparent bombing attempt at a federal building in Laguna Niguel and the leader of an anti-tax splinter group of the Posse Comitatus who is charged with making death threats against Internal Revenue Service agents in Nevada, government sources said Wednesday.

The FBI is investigating whether radical tax-protester William P. Gale was involved in any way in the March 2 incident at the Chet Holifield Building, according to the sources, who asked not to be identified.

Seven pipe bombs--two of them containing live explosive charges--were discovered that day in a vacant field across from the federal building, which also is called the Ziggurat, Orange County sheriff’s spokesmen said at the time.

The two bombs were destroyed by the Orange County hazardous devices squad. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombs.

FBI Participating

“This office is participating in that investigation into the bombing in Orange County,” Michael Growney, a Las Vegas FBI spokesman, confirmed.

Gale and six associates were arrested last October after making death threats against the IRS agents. They allegedly sent the agents “constructive notices” warning that the agents would receive a “maximum sentence” if they did not stop collecting taxes.

Gale was arrested at his rural home in Mariposa County in California last Oct. 23. He has since been released from federal custody. His trial date has not yet been set.

Gale, who likes to be called “reverend,” won notoriety in 1983 when a small Kansas radio station broadcast a series of his sermons that consisted largely of racial attacks on Jews and other minority groups.

Gale was head of an anti-tax spinoff group of the Posse Comitatus known as the Committee of the States, according to Richard Pocker, assistant U.S. attorney in Las Vegas.

IRS Handles Main Case

Las Vegas FBI officials said Wednesday that the main case against Gale is being handled by the IRS.

“But we are aware of the bombs that were allegedly placed in (Orange County) at a federal building. Beyond that I can’t say anything,” said Patrick Foran, Las Vegas FBI assistant special agent in charge. “We basically have information from our offices there in Los Angeles but beyond that I really can’t comment as to what we’re doing.”

FBI officials in Las Vegas and Los Angeles and an Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman would say Wednesday only that the bombing investigation is continuing.

“We’re unable to comment further at this time except to acknowledge that we are coordinating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department,” said Fred Reagan, FBI spokesman in Los Angeles.

Lt. Dick Olson, a sheriff’s spokesman, said: “We are certainly aware of the attempted bombing, but all we can say at this point is that we are cooperating on an investigation with the FBI.”

Times staff writer Ronald J. Ostrow in Washington contributed to this article.