Ninja Terrorists Against NATO!

Three would-be arsonists from the 2012 NATO meeting in Chicago were found not guilty of terrorism, a rare State level rather than Federal charge.



But that is the dry version of events.

Quote:

Reaching into an exhibit box, Durkin lifted a slingshot that was among the items the activists brought to Chicago. Holding it up to jurors, he said mockingly, "A weapon of mass destruction. Tools of terrorism, for sure." Durkin noted he had called his client, Chase, and the other defendants "goofs" in his opening, and he told jurors he stood by that assessment. He also held up an incomplete gas mask they brought to Chicago. "Talk about how stupid they are – to reinforce my goof theory. They brought a gas mask and didn't bring the filter," he said. ... Defense attorneys say the officers posing as activists egged on the three, who were, they argued, frequently too drunk or too high on marijuana to take any meaningful steps planning attacks. Michael Deutch, Church's attorney, conceded to jurors that his client had brought a bow and arrow, and a throwing star with him to Chicago. But he said there was a simple explanation. "He has a fetish ... He thinks he's a ninja warrior," he said.

Linky.

Quote:

Defense attorneys played up the men's incompetence, painting them as having “delusions of protesting grandeur.” But they were frequently drunk, high and unable to complete simple tasks, once missing out on a protest because Church had to wait for his pot dealer. One of the undercover officers told an apologetic Church that he needed to make a to-do list in the morning before smoking pot. Church also said he wanted to attack four police stations but didn't want to Google the locations of two of them. Chase advocated attacking Obama's re-election campaign headquarters with a slingshot and marbles. Church declined when Nadia Chikko, one of the undercover officers, asked Church if he wanted to try out one of the Molotovs they'd built with four empty beer bottles, some gasoline and a cut-up bandana from Mehmet Uygun, the other undercover officer. “I'm too (expletive) cold to be going anywhere. I want to wrap up in my blanket and sleep,” he said.

Linky.



Hilarious defense tactic. It seems to have worked for the more serious charge, but they will still get 4-30 years.

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