Four anti-war activists who attempted to arrest former White House adviser Karl Rove when he visited Des Moines in July will stand trial today in a Polk County court.

Facing charges of trespassing are retired Methodist minister Chet Guinn; two members of the Des Moines Catholic Worker Community, Edward Bloomer and Mona Shaw; and former group member Kirk Brown.

The four attempted a citizen’s arrest of Rove on July 25 at the Wakonda County Club on Des Moines’ south side. They were stopped at the country club’s entry gate. They accused Rove of felony murder, election fraud, conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the United States leading to the war in Iraq, as well as treason, sedition and subversive activities.

Rove’s July visit was the second time Shaw and Brown had attempted to make a citizen’s arrest, the first coming in March at the University of Iowa.

Jury selection in the case was expected to begin this morning, with the actual trial starting after lunch.