FBI Arrests Blogger For Alleged Death Threats (Updated)

The FBI arrested blogger Hal Turner, known to be a white supremacist, on charges that he called for the killing of three federal judges in Chicago. Earlier this month, Turner was arrested on charges of calling for violence against three Connecticut state officials. 

UPDATE: Hal Turner was acquitted of all charges in Sept. 2011. "Harold 'Hal' Turner was found not guilty of felony inciting injury to people and misdemeanor threatening by a Hartford jury that deliberated less than three hours," the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on Sept. 16, 2011. In December 2012, Turner sued Connecticut officials for $50 million, claiming he had been falsely arrested in 2009.

Chicago Breaking News (CBN) reports that U.S. Attorney's office alleges that blogger Hal Turner publicly called for the killing of three federal appeals court judges who serve on the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago. The U.S. Attorney's office says that Turner's web site included photos of the judges and addresses for them, with statements such as: "Let me be the first to say this plainly; These judges deserve to be killed." Although the federal charges against Turner were brought in Chicago, he will appear in U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J. on Thursday, June 25.

Harold "Hal" Turner

In a separate but related case, the Jersey Journal reported on June 11 that Turner turned himself into Connecticut State Capitol Police "on charges of inciting injury against three officials in that state, according to Connecticut officials." 

In this case, the Jersey Journal story said, "The charge stems from posts Turner put on his blog regarding two elected officials and a state employee in Connecticut who took the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport to task for failing to register as a lobbyist before staging a large protest against a bill aimed at changing how Catholic parishes incorporate."

In short, Mr. Turner seems to be a seriously disturbed mental case. Turner is invoking the First Amendment as a defense for his words. 

Hal Turner has much in common, sadly, with millions of whack jobs who habitually post violent comments to posts on blogs and other web sites. 

And by the way, before you liberals start cackling about this "right-wing whacko," consider something. Sure, he's a right-wing lunatic, on the far, outer galaxy of the Right, but I agree that he is vile. I don't like racists of any color. 

But ask yourself, Liberals, how many times you or your liberal friends openly wished for violent acts against Republicans? George W. Bush, for example. Can you honestly say that you've never heard a liberal say that they'd love to put a bullet in Bush's head if they had the chance? I've heard it many, many times. The scariest part: They were "mainstream" liberals, not far-out lunatics.

RELATED: 

Blogger acquitted of threats to Conn. officials - San Diego Union-Tribune

Acquitted blogger sues Conn. officials for $50M - Associated Press