Feds Arrest Blogger On Threat Against Judges

Feds Arrest Blogger On Threat Against Judges



CHICAGO (AP) ― Click to enlarge1 of 1
Federal prosecutors say a white supremacist blogger who was upset over a court ruling has been arrested in New Jersey on charges of threatening to assault or murder three Chicago-based federal judges.

A white supremacist blogger was arrested at his New Jersey home Wednesday and charged with threatening to assault or murder three Chicago-based judges who refused to overturn local ordinances banning handguns.

Hal Turner, 47, a former Internet radio talk show host, was taken into custody by FBI agents who went to his North Bergen home with a search warrant, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Prosecutors quoted a Turner Internet posting as saying: "Let me be the first to say this plainly: These judges deserve to be killed."

The posting included a map showing the Everett Dirksen Federal Courthouse, where the three judges are based. It said a map showing the judges' homes would later be added.

The posting also referred to the murder of the mother and husband of Chicago-based federal Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow in February 2005 -- a crime that sent shock waves across the nation.

"Apparently, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court didn't get the hint after those killings," the posting said. "It appears another lesson is needed."

U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald announced the arrest, stressing the importance federal officials placed on the case.

"We take threats to federal judges very seriously -- period," he said.

Turner organized a rally of supremacist groups in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 2007 and a neo-Nazi rally in Kingston, N.Y., in 2005. He ended his Internet radio show but continues a blog under the heading "Honest talk in a time of universal deceit."

On Monday, Turner was arraigned in a Connecticut court on a charge of encouraging violence against state legislators there. He allegedly told blog readers to "take up arms" against the lawmakers and that government officials should "obey the Constitution or die."

In the latest case, Turner allegedly referred to the three judges who made the handgun ruling as "scum" and said "their blood will replenish the tree of liberty."

The judges, who dismissed a lawsuit by the National Rifle Association seeking to overturn handgun bans in Chicago and suburban Oak Park, ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court should make the decision on the local ordinances.

The judges were identified as Richard Posner, Frank Easterbrook and William Bauer.

Turner was scheduled to appear Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Shipp in federal court in Newark, N.J.

The charge of threatening to assault or murder a federal judge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)


Owner comments

finally hal in federal lockup where he belongs now we all can have peace without a nut like him on the air.now lets see who next on the list i wanna see in jail oh ya james p wickstrom I wanna see him in jail now that guy along with hal turner with big bubba can be butt buddies hmmmmmmmmmm scary thought wouldnt you think?