Hate blogger Hal Turner arrested for alleged threats to judge
In the news again, Hate blogger Harold "Hal" Turner was arrested at his home today in North Bergen on federal charges filed in Chicago alleging he threatened to assault and murder three federal judges there because of their ruling upholding a handgun ban, officials said.
"We take threats to federal judges very seriously. Period," said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois of the comments posted by Turner on his blog earlier this month regarding Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook and Judges Richard Posner and William Bauer, of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
"Let me be the first to say this plainly: These judges deserve to be killed," Turner wrote on June 2, officials said, adding that Turner listed names, photos, phone numbers, work addresses and room numbers of the three judges.
A photo of the building where the judges have offices Turner posted on his Web site included circles and arrows marking "anti-truck bomb barriers," officials said.
Turner is due in court tomorrow in Newark on these charges.
On Monday, Turner, 47, was arraigned in Connecticut on charges of inciting injury to three state officials there. In that case Turner urged his readers, also on June 2, to "take up arms" against officials championing a bill to give lay persons more control over finances in Catholic parishes and suggested the officials should "Obey the Constitution or die."
Turner, arrested at his North Bergen home June 3 on the Connecticut charges, did not enter a plea and his next court appearance was scheduled for July 14.
The charges in Connecticut carry a possible sentence of 1 to 10 years in prison upon conviction and the federal charges filed today carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine, officials said.
In the past, Tuner has advocated spitting on Jews and carrying out "good old vigilante justice" against "Negroes."
Originally Posted by soonerfan28
