It appears that WikiLeaks is the source for this story, and it comes from a Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center document. The story is covered in the Bangor Daily News today. Here’s a bit of that report:

James G. Cummings, who police say was shot to death by his wife two months ago, allegedly had a cache of radioactive materials in his home suitable for building a “dirty bomb.”
According to an FBI field intelligence report from the Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center posted online by WikiLeaks, an organization that posts leaked documents, an investigation into the case revealed that radioactive materials were removed from Cummings’ home after his shooting death on Dec. 9.

The report posted on the WikiLeaks Web site states that “On 9 December 2008, radiological dispersal device components and literature, and radioactive materials, were discovered at the Maine residence of an identified deceased [person] James Cummings.”

Click here to view the full report. The section referring to Cummings can be read here.

It says that four 1-gallon containers of 35 percent hydrogen peroxide, uranium, thorium, lithium metal, thermite, aluminum powder, beryllium, boron, black iron oxide and magnesium ribbon were found in the home.

Also found was literature on how to build “dirty bombs” and information about cesium-137, strontium-90 and cobalt-60, radioactive materials. The FBI report also stated there was evidence linking James Cummings to white supremacist groups. This would seem to confirm observations by local tradesmen who worked at the Cummings home that he was an ardent admirer of Adolf Hitler and had a collection of Nazi memorabilia around the house, including a prominently displayed flag with swastika. Cummings claimed to have pieces of Hitler’s personal silverware and place settings, painter Mike Robbins said a few days after the shooting.

An application for membership in the National Socialist Movement filled out by Cummings also was found in the residence, according to the report. Cummings’ wife, Amber B. Cummings, 31, told investigators that her husband spoke of “dirty bombs,” according to the report, and mixed chemicals in her kitchen sink. She allegedly told police that Cummings subjected her to years of mental, physical and sexual abuse. She also said that Cummings was “very upset” when Barack Obama was elected president.

Man, this guy was not just whacked out. He abused his wife physically and sexually, he thought he was eating off of Adolf Hitler’s silverware, and he set about making a dirty bomb. This would be laughable except for the fact of how upset the guy became when Barack Obama was elected President.

What is the answer to this sort of thing? It appears in this instance we may never have heard of it if it were not for a leak. I’m sure there is a theory out there that if these whack job proto-terrorists are publicized that they might inspire copycats. I’m thinking, though, that the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti Defamation League have done a good job exposing the hate over the years, helping marginalize these whack jobs. I believe in sunshine to dry up the ugly cesspools of hate.