Murray: Battle For Control Of Minuteman Project Rages (Gilchrist)

The Bulletin ^ | 03/05/2007 | Joe Murray

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..With 1,200 volunteers accepting Gilchrist's call and a handful of closely-picked advisors assisting the MPP, Gilchrist spearheaded the largest minuteman assembly since our Founding Fathers in 1776. But unbeknownst to Gilchrist, there were some foxes in the hen house. Three of the MMP's advisors, and Gilchrist's close friends, decided that Gilchrist had overstayed his welcome as MMP's president.

Last week, Marvin Stewart, Barbara Coe, and Debra Courtney, a.k.a. Debra Peterson voted to remove Gilchrist from the post he has served since MMP came into existence and transfer authority of the MMP's bank accounts, email lists, Web site and letterhead to themselves.

The only problem? MMP does not have an executive board. "This is a 9-11 to the max," stated Gilchrist from his California office. "This was a well thought out plan that has been in the works since last summer."

Gilchrist told The Bulletin in an email that these three individuals, whom he once trusted, "stole our identities, our bank account, our mailing lists [100,000+], our stationary, some equipment, hacked into every one of our Web site providers and pirated the control over them." It was a bloodless coup.

But a bloodless coup does not necessarily mean a lawyerless coup.

According to a press release issued by the MMP, the project is incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware, but Gilchrist is the only corporate officer listed. In other words, Gilchrist is running the show. Gilchrist explains that the situation is one in which MMP is "a sole proprietorship wrapped in corporate form." Even further, Gilchrist adamantly denies that Stewart, Coe, or Courtney were ever on a board of directors. Rather, these individuals were friends of Gilchrist who were brought into the MMP solely for advisory purposes. "We did give them some titles," explained Gilchrist, but "they were advisory panelists."

In a press release, Gilchrist explained, "Even if the seven-person board they claim to have been a part of existed, how could three people, who couldn't even constitute a quorum, meet secretly without notifying the others, and take any sort of legal action?"

It appears, though, that the MMP three did not get that memo, for Stewart, Coe, and Courtney met in secret, held a vote, ousted Gilchrist and then went to Delaware to change the corporate paperwork.

And once the group got a hold of the "bogus" paperwork, Gilchrist explained that they went to the MMP's bank to get Gilchrist and his wife's names removed as signatories on the account. Gilchrist further states they took $4,000 of MMP's money. This diversion of funds caused MMP's checks to bounce.

Gilchrist believes that such action violated the law and he notified the authorities. In an email, Gilchrist told The Bulletin, "I have two criminal complaints with the Sheriff's Dept. seeking the arrest of Deborah Ann Courtney (aka Deborah Ann Peterson) and Marvin L. Stewart (who has declared himself the president and leader of the Minuteman Project)."

Not surprisingly, this battle has made its way to the courtroom and on Feb. 26 Orange County Judge Randell L. Wilkinson ruled in Gilchrist's favor and ordered an expedited hearing to be held on March 21, 2007. The hearing will determine who controls the MMP.

Gilchrist, though, has also gone on the offensive seeking the aid of three law firms to defend him in this attempted corporate takeover. And while such an act is necessary, Gilchrist admits that his defense is costly and is asking his supporters for assistance in protecting the MMP..."

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Gilchrist is in trouble because he's a boob.

[Lionface]

WVR,
I happened to have been there for every mile of the MMP's "caravan to washington d.c.". Some places were tough, even scary (and I grew up in L.A. County that's saying something). I watched as Jim & Sandy Gilchrist, along with other hero's, whom actually put themselves out there, backing up what they believe in, sufferng the slings and arrows (and slander)of opponents all awhile Debra & co. only showed up when it was safe to do so,to bask in the accolades, for the hard work and sacrifice of all the others. Jim is innocent of any accusations until proven guilty. Let us at least agree on that. Have you never trusted or believed in the wrong person?

[Blue Collar Republican]

Lionface,

In case you missed it, Barbara Coe resigned from the rebel "Board of Directors" and has appeared to flip allegiances once again. Makes you wonder how this will play out in the court of public opinion.

[Lionface]

Barbara jumped ship. What a shock! Maybe Barbara realized Ms. Courtney (a.k.a Ms. Peterson) and Mr. Stewart could be looking at a little "time out" from the government. Who is this guy Stewart? Observational opinion; a nobody, from nowhere, with mail-order credentials!