Prosecutors having issues with Hutaree Militia
When this “Raid” went down, I thought publicly that there was much more to it than a few morons running around the woods acting like Rambo. The raid didn’t kill anyone, nor did anyone get injured, thank GOD. I believe the Hutaree militia got on the federal radar because of their ACTIONS. Whether their actions warranted such action by the feds is what is questioned now. IF these guys desired, planned and prepared to attack cops, then they should be under the jail. BUT; if they were just (As their web site says) preparing for the second coming and planning on surviving it, rather than instituting it, then the actions by the feds was politically based and it should be very concerning to all Americans.
Now that the trial has started, and FACTS are getting out, we are hearing the case against these idiots is less than stellar.
The ‘Hutaree Militia’ Case Starts To Unravel — On First Amendment Grounds
When the nine members of the Hutaree militia group were arrested in late March near Adrian, Michigan, the MSM ran hard with the story. Within 48 hours, the template was set: A “right-wing extremist Christian” militia group had been planning to wreak havoc by killing law enforcement officers as a way to engage a wider war against the government.
Soon the MSM had the Hutarees tried, convicted and jailed.
Throughout most of April, the story faded from the news and left behind the public assumption that the Hutarees’ diabolical plot had been thwarted by the FBI in the nick of time.
Then, at an April 27 court hearing concerning the group’s disposition as they awaited trial, the lead FBI agent in the case against the Hutarees was called to testify before U.S. District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. That’s when, according to the Detroit News, the government’s case started showing some serious cracks;
A federal judge had harsh words for prosecutors Tuesday after an FBI agent called to testify in the Hutaree militia case told the court she learned she would take the stand only shortly before the hearing began.
Special Agent Leslie Larsen, the agent in charge of the case in which nine people are accused of plotting to kill police officers and wage war against the U.S. government, did not know the answers to many of the questions she was asked and did not have her notes with her.
“I share the frustration of the defense … with all of the responses that are coming from this witness that she doesn’t know anything,” said U.S. District Judge Victoria A. Roberts.
And
An FBI agent who led the investigation of nine Michigan militia members charged with trying to launch war against the federal government couldn’t recall many details of the two-year probe yesterday during questioning by defense lawyers.
Even the judge who must decide whether to release the nine until trial was puzzled.
“I share the frustrations of the defense team … that she doesn’t know anything,” U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts said after agent Leslie Larsen confessed she hadn’t reviewed her notes recently and couldn’t remember specific details of the case.
Glenn Reynolds commented back then that “they got the headlines they wanted after the arrest, anyway.” Indeed. The case to even hold the 9 Hutaree members went downhill from there. On April 29, there was this news, also via Instapundit:
Judge asks feds to show militia did more than talk. “A federal judge challenged prosecutors Wednesday to show that nine members of a Michigan militia accused of plotting war against the government had done more than just talk and should remain locked up. . . . Roberts pressed that point more than once as Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Waterstreet argued in favor of keeping the nine in jail. The judge suggested she didn’t hear or read in the transcripts any indication that violence was imminent. ‘Mere presence where a crime may be planned is not a crime. … How does this add up to seditious conspiracy?’ Roberts said.”
So the question must be asked…IF these Militia members truly presented a danger to their community or our nation, why are they being let out? I smell a big rat but I’m waiting until charges are either dropped or the Militia members are found guilty.
I will say this, court cases have a way of ebbing and flowing, this may just be a “win” the battle and lose the war type thing for the Hutaree. I don’t think the feds are stupid enough to prosecute a case that is not fairly solid.
As of right now the Hutaree case is looking less and less like a conspiracy to kill cops and more and more like a conspiracy to show right-wing extremists as the problem. Stay tuned, and watch out Michigan folks the Hutaree are out now…
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