XPost: alt.politics.usa.congress, alt.atheism, talk.politics.misc   
   XPost: alt.politics.usa.democrats, alt.politics.usa.republicans   
   From: Intelligent@savetheworldmsn.com   
      
   On 11/20/2021 12:43 AM, Intelligent Party wrote:   
   > On 11/19/2021 10:10 PM, Anthony Soprano wrote:   
   >>  MIAMI.CBSLOCAL.COM   
   >> Florida Man Daniel Baker Found Guilty In State Capitol Plot   
   >> CBSMiami.com Team   
   >>   
   >> TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – A Tallahassee man who was arrested in   
   >> January for plotting to violently confront would-be protesters at the   
   >> Florida Capitol was found guilty Thursday on federal charges.   
   >>   
   >> Daniel Baker, who made online posts about confronting supporters of   
   >> former President Donald Trump during an expected protest at the state   
   >> Capitol, was convicted on two counts of sending, in interstate   
   >> commerce, a true threat to kidnap or injure.   
   >>   
   >> READ MORE: Bad Weather Can Mean Bad News For Miami Water & Sewer   
   >>   
   >> During a trial that lasted about two and a half days, Baker's defense   
   >> argued that the series of social media posts that led to his arrest   
   >> were "jokes." Federal prosecutors set out to prove that "inflammatory   
   >> rhetoric" Baker posted online constituted a true threat.   
   >>   
   >> Ultimately, the 12-person jury returned a guilty verdict after roughly   
   >> four hours of deliberation.   
   >>   
   >> The case centered largely on the content of a flyer that Baker posted   
   >> to Facebook and other social media sites in January, issuing a "call   
   >> to arms" for others to join him and "encircle terrorists who attack   
   >> the Capitol" on President Joe Biden's inauguration day.   
   >>   
   >> The FBI had been aware of Baker's social media threats since October,   
   >> according to court documents.   
   >>   
   >> The posts were made amid heightened security at the state Capitol,   
   >> with Gov. Ron DeSantis mobilizing the Florida National Guard to assist   
   >> state and local law enforcement. But the anticipated protest by Trump   
   >> supporters never materialized.   
   >>   
   >> Repeatedly describing himself as a "leftist," Baker testified this   
   >> week that he was attempting to "inspire the community to defend   
   >> itself, to defend the (Florida) Capitol" and the country after Trump   
   >> supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.   
   >>   
   >> "This is an armed COUP and can only be stopped by an armed community!   
   >> If you're afraid to die fighting the enemy, stay in bed and live," the   
   >> flyer said in part.   
   >>   
   >> Randolph Murrell, Baker's public defender, described Baker's posts as   
   >> reckless and careless but argued that Baker thought what he was doing   
   >> was legal and that he wasn't being serious.   
   >>   
   >> "A lot of these were jokes, a lot of these were clearly over the top,"   
   >> Murrell said in his closing argument.   
   >>   
   >> Baker, when questioned by Murrell while testifying, said his posts   
   >> were "almost exclusively jokes," aimed at depicting an "ironic parody   
   >> of a left-wing caricature."   
   >>   
   >> Baker testified that his posts were not aimed at threatening potential   
   >> right-wing protesters because his Facebook profile was set to private   
   >> and he was only communicating with other "leftists" who he had   
   >> "screened."   
   >>   
   >> READ MORE: University Of Miami Law Students Help Exonerate Wrongfully   
   >> Convicted Florida Man   
   >>   
   >> The defense also attempted to downplay prosecutors' argument that   
   >> Baker was actively recruiting people to join him in taking up arms   
   >> against would-be protesters,   
   >>   
   >> But the prosecution countered by arguing that a publicly viewable   
   >> Facebook event that Baker created, titled "DEFEND TALLAHASSEE," could   
   >> reasonably be seen as a threat.   
      
      
   How is it we don't have a right to self-defense?  This shit is so stupid!   
      
      
   >> Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Kunz pointed to Baker's prior military   
   >> training and knowledge of weapons in arguing that Baker "had a means   
   >> to carry out his threats."   
   >>   
   >> Baker served in the military for roughly a year until 2007, before   
   >> receiving an "other-than-honorable" discharge, according to   
   >> information published by the U.S. Attorney's Office in January. After   
   >> being discharged, Baker joined a group fighting in Syria against ISIS   
   >> and the Turkish government.   
   >>   
   >> Prosecutors displayed social-media messages sent by Baker, in which he   
   >> claimed to have killed 16 people during his time fighting in Syria.   
   >>   
   >> "I made that up. I was just talking big," Baker said when questioned   
   >> about the claim.   
   >>   
   >> Murrell repeatedly cited Baker's small stature, at 5 feet, 3 inches   
   >> tall and about 130 pounds, saying Baker suffered bullying growing up   
   >> and that he "talks tough to offset his size disadvantage."   
   >>   
   >> But Assistant U.S. Attorney Lazaro Fields said Baker "knew exactly   
   >> what he was doing because he knew his capabilities."   
   >>   
   >> Baker appeared to show no emotion following the guilty verdict   
   >> Thursday. Murrell and friends of Baker who testified in his defense   
   >> declined to comment on the verdict outside of the federal courthouse.   
   >>   
   >> U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor set a sentencing hearing for Baker on   
   >> Aug. 16. Court officials said in January that Baker faced a maximum of   
   >> five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.   
   >>   
   >> When asked Thursday what penalty Baker could face following the trial,   
   >> Murrell said he hadn't "figured that out yet."   
   >>   
   >> MORE NEWS: Online Threats Continue At South Florida Schools, Campaign   
   >> Hopes To Make Students Think Twice Before Posting   
   >>   
   >> Copyright 2021 CBS Local Media. All rights reserved. This material may   
   >> not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News   
   >> Service of Florida's Ryan Dailey contributed to this report.)   
   >   
   >   
   > If you rape my daughter I'll kill you.  Threatening to defend people against   
   crime   
   > is not crime.  It's freedom of speech, and the people persecuting this man   
   are   
   > guilty for perpetration under color of law.  The government should walk   
   softly and   
   > carry a big stick.  It should not get away with such kinds of evil.  The   
   charges   
   > are crime in my mind, and always will be.  The government's punishments will   
   > convince of nothing but that it is more guilty and criminal.  Everything he   
   said   
   > is semantics and you don't know what he said.   
   >   
   > Advocating crime is 100% legal if it is not imminent lawless action under the   
   > Brandenburg test.  We demand this man receive $10,000 for every day   
   incarcerated,   
   > and $1,000 for every day since the deceitful wrongful charges were filed.    
   And the   
   > 1st Amendment does not say except for threats, it says NO LAW!   
   >   
   > WE CONDEMN THE GOVERNMENT, WE CONDEMN THE COURTS, AND IF YOU COME HERE TO   
   ARREST   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)