The Biden-Harris Department of Justice announced on Monday the arrest of 24-year-old Skyler Philippi, who prosecutors claim plotted to use a weapon of mass destruction to bomb a Nashville energy facility, as part of what Attorney General Merrick Garland called a “violent white supremacist ideology.”
In his Monday statement, the attorney general revealed, “the FBI had already compromised his plot,” and charging documents reveal the federal agency first gained knowledge of Philippi in June.
A federal filing in the case Phillipi reveals a Confidential Human Source (CHS-1), who had a previous relationship with the FBI, began reporting conversations with Philippi around in June, when he allegedly expressed “desire to commit a mass shooting at a YMCA facility,” somewhere around his home in Columbia, Tennessee.
According to the federal government, Philippi was then passed from CHS-1 to another Confidential Human Source (CHS-2), who lived closer to the 24-year old, and was “able to meet in person in Philippi.”
By July 17, the indictment revealed Philippi was communicating with CHS-2 via phone calls that were recorded by the FBI asset, and specifically discussed plans to attack nine or more electric substations to “shock the system.”
During a phone call on that date that was not recorded, the DOJ claims Philippi and CHS-2 also discussed “stealing a train de-railer for the purpose of derailing a train.”
The next month, the filing reveals CHS-2 introduced Philippi to an undercover FBI agent for an in-person meeting, where Philippi allegedly told the undercover agent about a “manifesto” outlining his antisemitic and white supremacist views, specifically expressing a desire to attack “high tax cities or industrial areas to let the k**** lose money.”
Two more undercover FBI agents were introduced to Philippi by September, when he allegedly discussed plans to build a drone for the purpose of attacking an energy facility, and apparently claimed to have associates who may help with the scheme.
The FBI claims Philippi confirmed his intention to attack Nashville during one September meeting, when he allegedly told the undercover agents, “I definitely want to hit Nashville, like one hundred percent. I want to get Nashville.”
He allegedly continued to communicate with the undercover agents about the plot for weeks, and began issuing orders to the undercover agents about how they should dress for the attack by September 28.
Throughout October, the FBI claims Philippi continued to inform the agents about his plan’s progress, including the procurement of black powder on October 10, and the selection of November 2 or November 3 by October 19.
Confirmation by the federal government of its significant involvement in producing the case against Philippi comes after the federal agency was criticized for its similar level of involvement in the plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan in 2020.
That plot similarly boasted a group of collaborators that largely contained federal agents. These government operatives assisted with the plot, and claimed to have skills including explosives expertise, or offered to drive vehicles and provide security.
Use of confidential human sources and embedded agents to secure arrests is a tactic the FBI has used since at least 2013, when the FBI arrested a Kansas man who brought an inoperative bomb to an airport. Though the man thought the bomb was real, and that he was engaged in a jihadist plot with an individual he met on social media, it was actually the FBI communicating with him.
Without his knowledge, the agency instructed the man to build a device that would not detonate.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Skyler Philippi” by Nashville Metro Police Department and “Nashville Electric Company” by Nashville Electric Company.Â
