Monday, May 03, 2010

On the Hutaree group,

A federal judge in Detroit today ordered the release of nine members of a Lenawee County Christian militia group freed on bond over the objections of federal prosecutors.

“The United States is correct that it need not wait until people are killed before it arrests conspirators,” U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts said in a 36-page decision. “But, the Defendants are also correct: their right to engage in hate-filled, venomous speech, is a right that deserves First Amendment protection.”

She said federal prosecutors failed to persuade her that the defendants must be jailed until trial.

It is unclear whether the U.S. Attorney’s Office will appeal the decision
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Y'know if 'hate-filled, venomous speech' were a crime, I can think of a bunch of Evil Party politicians and progressives who'd be in a federal prison. Assuming the feds would actually hold the leftists to the same standards they do conservatives.

Aside from that, this pretty much has the judge saying "You have these recordings, but all they tell me is a bunch of people were talking nasty; you haven't shown me anything I consider bad enough to keep them locked up until trial." Which tells me some things about the government's case, along with them telling the judge "You can't see everything we've got, we don't have to show it now." If they actually thought these people were that big a threat, why not bring out whatever evidence needed to keep them locked up? IF they have that kind of evidence...

Especially since they threw in that 'weapons of mass destruction' bullshit, which the feds seem awfully eager to charge people with. That designation has always been reserved for chemical/nuke/bio weapons, but now someone says they thought you mentioned 'pipe bomb' and out the charge comes. Can you say 'overreach'?

I'll say it again: these people may actually be a threat, may have actually made nasty plans, but it's up to the government to PROVE it beyond reasonable doubt. We'll see if they can.

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