Federal case against neo-Nazi to go to trial next week
Judge puts aside First Amendment issues for now.
By Laurence Hammack
A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss charges against a white supremacist, setting the stage for a trial that will determine whether the man’s hate-filled rants were free speech or illegal threats.
William A. White, commander of the Roanoke-based American National Socialist Workers Party, is scheduled to go on trial starting next week in U.S. District Court.
After hearing defense arguments today that White’s e-mails and online postings were protected by the First Amendment, Judge James Turk denied a motion to dismiss the charges.
"I think the indictment is sufficient to go to trial," Turk said. "It may not be sufficient to go to a jury."
The judge’s comments suggest that after federal prosecutors put on their case against White, he might reconsider whether the neo-Nazi’s actions amounted to true threats, which are not protected by the U.S. Constitution.
White is charged with using e-mail, the telephone and his now defunct Web site to threaten about a half-dozen people across the country, usually after they said or did something that offended his racist beliefs.
Ahhh can't we put it off longer? I just love to see the asshole behind bars.
ReplyDeleteDirty Judges in Roanoke can be bought.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.anusha.com/turk.htm
What a study in contrasts! Hal Turner, a hysterical drama queen and publicity whore, selling out people right and left to stay out of jail.
ReplyDeleteCompare him with Bill White, a stand-up trooper who has retained his basic human dignity as well as his rock-solid fidelity to the Cause.
Bill White has earned my respect for his professional attitude, while Hal Turner is about as significant as a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe.
Hopefully this nonsense will be over with.
ReplyDeleteI do find it interesting that the wheels of justice turns just a slight bit faster for Turner than it does for White.
That is certainly an interesting fact.
ReplyDeleteBill is a trooper for sure.
ReplyDeleteHal Turner sending in a fake bomb threat to nail Bill White it was revealed in court today.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I hope White sues the living hell out of Hal for that one.
Thanks Schwartz, I'll tell Bill about that.
ReplyDelete