Avowed Neo-Nazi Convicted of Soliciting Attack on Juror, Although Web Posting Didn't Exactly Say So
An avowed neo-Nazi who posted the photo, name, home address and phone number of a juror who helped convict self-proclaimed white supremacist Matthew Hale in 2004 of soliciting the murder of a federal judge in Chicago has now himself been convicted of a crime.
William White, 33, was convicted by a federal jury in Chicago today of soliciting violence, reports Agence France-Presse. When he is sentenced, he could get up to 10 years.
Although White’s post on overthrow.com did not expressly call for an attack on the juror, who reportedly served as the panel’s foreman, prosecutors said it could easily be read, in the context of other material on the site, to do so, reports the Chicago Tribune.
In one 2005 post, for instance, White called for the “assassination” of everyone connected with the Hale trial. “The whole context has to be considered,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hogan. “For years he repeatedly urged … that people he disagreed with be killed, lynched [or] shot.”
White’s counsel said the First Amendment protected this speech and described the government’s case as “playing on fear.”
Members of the jury were referred to by number rather than name. The panel asked that the court be cleared for the reading of the verdict, which the judge declined to do.
However, the judge agreed to provide an escort after the verdict, to see that they exited the courtroom safely, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
The newspaper says the former juror targeted by White tearfully testified about being deluged with hateful texts and phone calls, knowing that the senders likely had his photo and address and knew he was a romantic relationship with another man, who is African-American.
An Anti Defamation League website provides a timeline of events related to Matthew Hale’s conviction.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Neo-Nazi Held Without Bond in Alleged Online Threat to Federal Jury Foreman”
ABAJournal.com: “7th Circuit Judges Uneasy Testifying in ‘Hate Blogger’ Death Threats Case”
ABAJournal.com: “Shock Jock Hal Turner Gets 33 Months for Threatening 7th Circuit Judges in Blog Post”
ABAJournal.com: “After Murders, Judge Seeks ‘Resurrections’”
