Hal Turner admits in court to being an FBI informant; Prosecuting Attorney concurs

Lawyer: North Bergen blogger accused of judge threat was FBI source

Tuesday, July 28, 2009
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NorthJersey.com

CHICAGO -- A New Jersey blogger accused of threatening to kill three federal judges has been an FBI informant and even told authorities about a potential plot to assassinate President Barack Obama, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Blogger Hal Turner pleaded not guilty earlier in the day to charges that he threatened to kill three Chicago-based federal appeals judges.

At his bond hearing, defense attorney Michael Orozco said the 47-year-old Turner of North Bergen, N.J., was not a danger to the community as federal prosecutors claim. Turner deserved to be released on bond, Orozco said, adding that he had served as an FBI confidential informant.

"He provided information about the potential assassination of President Obama," Orozco told U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Ashman.

Orozco acknowledged that he had no independent confirmation concerning a potential assassination and had only the word of his client — a political extremist whose views the lawyer himself repeatedly described as "outlandish."

The attorney also acknowledged that at some time in the past Turner had taken medicine for an emotional condition but said he no longer does because "he doesn't need it."

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hogan told Ashman he "never heard anything about that" potential assassination. He said Turner's contacts with the FBI ended "quite some time ago."

After court, Hogan and a federal spokesman, Randall Samborn, declined to comment further about Turner's relationship with the FBI or federal marshals.

Ashman gave Turner until an Aug. 10 continuation of the bond hearing to produce concrete evidence of Turner's help to the FBI or federal marshals. He ordered Turner held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in the meantime.

After court, Orozco said he would try to subpoena Turner's FBI "handler" for the Aug. 10 hearing.

Turner had said in Internet postings in June that the three federal appeals judges "deserve to be killed" because they issued a ruling that upheld ordinances in Chicago and suburban Oak Park banning handguns. He included their photos and the room numbers of their chambers at the courthouse.

Orozco said Turner had never advocated the murder of judges but merely gave his opinion, which was constitutionally protected free speech.

Turner is also facing charges in Connecticut for urging people there to "take up arms" against state legislators. He is scheduled to be in court Aug. 4 for arraignment.

Radio host denies threatening federal judges

Jeff Coen
July 28, 2009
Chicago Breaking News

An Internet radio host pleaded not guilty today to threatening to kill three federal appellate judges in Chicago and then sought his release from custody, saying he has been an informant for the FBI.

Hal Turner, who was arrested last month at his home in New Jersey, shook his head after being handed a copy of the indictment.

Turner is charged with calling for appellate judges Frank Easterbrook, William Bauer and Richard Posner to be killed after they affirmed a lower court decision June 2 to dismiss challenges to Chicago's handgun ban.

Turner allegedly used his web site to put out the message that all three were "cunning, ruthless, untrustworthy, disloyal, unpatriotic, deceitful scum."

"Let me be the first to say this plainly: These judges deserve to be killed," he allegedly said.

A federal judge from Louisiana will be brought in to preside over the case.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Ashman gave Turner 10 days to subpoena an FBI agent who Turner contends acted as his handler as he supplied the government with information. Turner's lawyer, Michael Orozco, said Turner prevented military equipment from being sold on the Internet and even tipped off the U.S. Marshal Service to a threat against President Barack Obama.

"So you're saying he's an American hero," Ashman said somewhat sarcastically.

As for the charges, Orozco said Turner was only giving his opinion on the judges' ruling and that he has a Constitutional right to free speech.

Assistant U.S. Atty. William Hogan said a magistrate judge in New Jersey had already ordered Turner detained before he was sent to Chicago, finding that he was a threat to the community. He has continued to air threatening radio messages on the Internet since his arrest, including a call placed from custody in New Jersey, Hogan said.

Hogan said Turner may have had some contact with the FBI as an informant but that it was quite some time ago. He said he had no idea about any action Turner supposedly took to thwart an attack on the president.