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{{short description|American holocaust denier and radio host}}
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{{Infobox Person
{{Infobox person
| name = Hal Turner | name = Hal Turner
| image = | image =
| image_size = | image_size = 150px
| caption = | caption =
| birth_name = Harold Charles Turner | birth_name = Harold Charles Turner
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|3|15}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|3|15}}
| birth_place = ] | birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date = | death_date =
| death_place = | death_place =
| death_cause = | death_cause =
| residence = | other_names =
| known_for =
| other_names = Hal from North Bergen
| known_for = | education =
| education = | employer =
| employer = | occupation = Radio host
| title =
| occupation = ] host
| title = | term =
| salary = | predecessor =
| networth = | successor =
| height =
| weight =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party = | party =
| boards = | boards =
| religion = Catholic | spouse =
| spouse = Phyllis A. Turner | partner =
| partner = | children =
| children = Michael Turner
| parents = | parents =
| relatives = | relatives =
| signature = | signature =
| website = | website =
| footnotes = | footnotes =
}} }}
'''Harold "Hal" Turner''' is an ], self-described ] ] ] host from ]. His weekly program, ''The Hal Turner Show'', was webcast from his home. '''Harold Charles''' "'''Hal'''" '''Turner''' (born March 15, 1962) is an American political commentator and convicted ] from ], ].


Turner's viewpoints typically encompass ]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.halturnershow.com/RedCrossRecordsProveHolocaustWasFraud.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607135103/http://www.halturnershow.com/RedCrossRecordsProveHolocaustWasFraud.html | archive-date=2007-06-07 | title=Official records from international Red Cross prove "holocaust" was fraud | publisher=www.halturnershow.com | date= 4 June 2007 | access-date =2009-07-15}}</ref> and ],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hal Turner|url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/hal-turner|access-date=2021-08-29|website=Southern Poverty Law Center|language=en}}</ref> and have included calls for ] of government officials. In August 2010, he was convicted for making threats against three federal judges with the ] ], for which he spent two years in prison.
Identifying himself as "Hal from North Bergen", he achieved notoriety in local conservative circles as a frequent caller to the ] radio talk show hosted by ].<ref>http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050620/blumenthal</ref> Turner parlayed this fame into a role as the northern New Jersey coordinator for ]'s 1992 presidential campaign. He went on to serve as campaign manager for ] ] in a number of campaigns in New Jersey in the 1990s, including a 1997 gubernatorial campaign.<ref></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?20020212929|title=F.E.C. IMAGE 20020212929 (Page 13 of 25)|accessdate=2007-01-01}}</ref>


Turner has sporadically hosted ''The Hal Turner Show'', usually on ] station ], since 2002, as well as a corresponding ], which has changed ] frequently and has spread ]es and ].
After Bob Grant's program was taken off the air for racist content, Turner established a friendship with his replacement, ], on whose program he was a frequent presence. Turner then became a talk radio host himself, joining fellow regular callers Frank from Queens and John from Staten Island to start the program ''The Right Perspective''.<ref>http://www.therightperspective.com.</ref> Turner left the program in 2002, citing artistic differences. In 2002, Turner became a solo host, purchasing a time slot on ] ] ], over which he broadcast for approximately four years. He gave up this show, he has said, after seeing ]'s film ], stating that the station was owned by a Jew and he "would no longer do business with Jews". <ref>http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050620/blumenthal/2</ref>


==Early life==
In ], Turner sought, and failed to receive, the ] nomination for election to the ] from New Jersey's 13th congressional district, losing to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?id=NJ13&cycle=2000|title=Congressional Races|accessdate=2007-01-01|publisher=Center for Responsive Politics}}</ref> <ref>http://www.state.nj.us/lps/elections/elec2000/results/2000g_c_candidate_tally.html</ref> Turner has identified himself as the "Chairman of the Republican Party of Hudson County, NJ Corp," a group which has no connection to the official ] Republican Party recognized by the state and national GOP. According to news reports, Hudson County Republican officials have stated that Turner's party is a "paper corporation with little or no membership".<ref>http://www.getnj.com/onlygameintown/turnervazquez.shtml</ref>
Turner was born in ] and raised in ] and from age five in ], where he attended ].<ref>, '']'', March 20, 2000. Accessed November 26, 2019. "Turner was born in Jersey City and lived in Union City until he was five years old, when his family moved to Ridgefield Park, where he was raised and attended high school."</ref> Prior to working on radio, Turner worked as a driver and a salesman.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2003/fall/40-to-watch?page=0,7|title=40 to Watch: Leaders of the Radical Right|newspaper=Southern Poverty Law Center |access-date=2010-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229181336/http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2003/fall/40-to-watch?page=0,7|archive-date=2010-12-29|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Early career==
On ], ] Hal Turner appeared on ]'s special "The Noose: An American Nightmare".<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDFcBAs5g4A</ref> In this segment he proudly puts forth his belief that the ] is a symbol of ] and it is revealed that he sells small replica nooses on his website in support of the white students involved in the controversy.
Identifying himself as "Hal from North Bergen", Turner became notable in ] circles as a frequent caller to and supporter of ] radio talk show hosts ] and ].<ref name=Hannity>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/hannitys-soul-mate-hate|last=Blumenthal|first=Max|date=2005-06-03|publisher=The Nation|title=Hannity's Soul-Mate of Hate|access-date=2015-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081436/http://www.thenation.com/article/hannitys-soul-mate-hate|archive-date=2015-05-18|url-status=live}}</ref> Turner parlayed this fame into a role as the northern New Jersey coordinator for ]'s 1992 presidential campaign.


Turner claims he established a friendship with Sean Hannity,<ref name=Hannity /> on whose radio program he had once been a frequent presence.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/hannitys-soul-mate-hate?page=0,1|last=Blumenthal|first=Max|date=2005-06-03|publisher=The Nation|title=Hannity's Soul-Mate of Hate (page 2)|access-date=2015-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081500/http://www.thenation.com/article/hannitys-soul-mate-hate?page=0,1|archive-date=2015-05-18|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, while Hannity and ] of the ] were debating ]'s association with ], Shabazz asked Hannity if he should "be judged by (his) promotion and association with Hal Turner". Hannity began to say that he didn't know Turner, but then said he was someone he had banned from his radio program ten years before. Turner subsequently gave an account of their association on his website, in which he said of Hannity's response: "I was quite disappointed when Sean Hannity at first tried to say he didn't know me. In fact, Sean does know me and we were quite friendly a few years ago."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myspace.com/bffhannity|author=Hal Turner|date=2008-03-23|title=About Sean Hannity and Me|access-date=2012-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129095117/https://myspace.com/bffhannity|archive-date=2015-11-29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/23/sean-hannity-confronted-o_n_92961.html|author=Jason Linkins|date=2008-03-23|title=Sean Hannity Confronted Over His Relationship With Neo-Nazi Hal Turner|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=2008-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608023424/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/23/sean-hannity-confronted-o_n_92961.html|archive-date=2008-06-08|url-status=live}}</ref> ], Program Director of WABC, disputed the account, which described a friendship developing between Turner and Hannity in 1993, three years before Hannity was actually hired at WABC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newshounds.us/2008/03/23/neo_naziwhite_supremacist_hal_turner_confirms_friendship_and_kinship_with_sean_hannity.php|author=Ellen|date=2008-03-23|title=Neo Nazi/White Supremacist Hal Turner Confirms Friendship And Kinship With Sean Hannity|publisher=News Hounds|access-date=2012-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211094702/http://www.newshounds.us/2008/03/23/neo_naziwhite_supremacist_hal_turner_confirms_friendship_and_kinship_with_sean_hannity.php|archive-date=2012-02-11|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Viewpoints==
Turner's website and radio program is largely devoted to a digest of news concerning crimes committed by minorities, which Turner describes using racist epithets. He supports strict limits on ]; advocates the hunting and killing of illegal immigrants <ref>http://www.comitenorte.org.mx/simposio/ponencias/jorgeb.pdf</ref>; promotes ] (including rounding up and killing Jews); and opposes the existence of the State of ]. <ref>http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/turner_own_words.htm </ref> He also writes and promotes ] materials.<ref>http://www.halturnershow.com/RedCrossRecordsProveHolocaustWasFraud.html</ref> Turner advocates political ] and overthrowing the government, because, he says, the current ] government is corrupt beyond repair. His website serves as a virtual meeting place for fellow white supremacists, via its comment pages.


Turner became a talk radio host, joining fellow regular callers Frank from ] and John from ] to start the program ''The Right Perspective''. Turner left the program in 2002, citing artistic differences. In 2002, Turner became a solo host, purchasing a time slot on ] radio station ], over which he broadcast for approximately four years. On WBCQ on March 22, 2004, he left the show "after harshly criticizing his supporters, listeners, and WBCQ."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://schedule.wbcq.com/main.php?fn=show_program&id=50 | title=Annotated WBCQ Program Guide | publisher=WBCQ | year=2004 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005111651/http://schedule.wbcq.com/main.php?fn=show_program&id=50 | archive-date=2008-10-05 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The show lacked financial support<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld4123.txt|title=Stopped broadcasting on March 22, 2004 from WBCQ|access-date=2008-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516083851/http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld4123.txt|archive-date=2008-05-16|url-status=live}}</ref> and Turner had health problems,<ref>Turner was in the hospital a number of times in 2003 and 2004 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419033632/http://www.frn.net/vines/Forum1/HTML/000877.html |date=April 19, 2012 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=August 2009}} leading to the temporary closure of his website and show.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}
=="Rally against violence"==
In response to an October 7, 2005 assault against a white student by a black student at ] High School, Turner, working with the ] group ], organized a rally which he called a "rally against violence".<ref>[http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=356782 Woodstock Times: "Turning our backs in unity
Kingston falls into line behind mayor's call to SPURN white supremacist rally"]</ref> On his webcast, Turner detailed at length the serious injuries suffered by the victim, and interviewed the victim's mother in strongly emotional terms, stating that the perpetrator "did not face any sanction".{{fact|date=December 2007}} In fact, the case was still under investigation, and resulted in the perpetrator being indicted as an adult with two felony counts: assault and attempted assault.<ref name=DailyFreeman-assault>{{cite web|url=http://dailyfreeman.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=15749825&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74969&rfi=8|title=KHS teen indicted for assault, not hate crime|accessdate=2007-01-01|date=2005-12-14|author= Fairchild, Mary|publisher=DailyFreeman.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1769&dept_id=74969&newsid=15534522&PAG=461&rfi=9|accessdate=2007-01-01|title=Supremacist vows KHS rally|author=Paul Kirby|date=2005-11-08|publisher=DailyFreeman.com}}</ref> Turner stated that black students were terrorizing white students throughout the high school, that he had received many anonymous emails from "students in that high school that tell me these things are so terrible that they are afraid to go to (school)". He characterized the rally both as "pro-white" and "against violence".<ref name=DailyFreeman-rally></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.national-socialism.us/archives/266|title=Media do not agree about Hal Turner’s Kingston Rally|accessdate=2007-01-01|date=2005-11-20|publisher=national-socialism.us}} '''(Warning: this site might be illegal to view in Germany and other countries)'''</ref> While the victim's mother at first said that she might attend the event, she decided not to do so when she learned of its racist nature, stating that she was "not a racist".<ref name=DailyFreeman-rally></ref> The ] promoted the rally in the Kingston area by distributing a ]-festooned laminated card bearing the words: "Got Jews? Got problems!"<ref>http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=355807 Woodstock Times "Outside agitation
White supremacists using KHS incidents as springboard to notoriety"</ref>


==Activism and assault claims==
In response, local residents, including political and religious leaders, organized against "racist" activity in Kingston, holding a number of "Unity Rallies" with a tolerance theme. <ref>http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=356782 ''Woodstock Times'': "Turning our backs in unity
In ], Turner sought the ] nomination for election to the ] from New Jersey's 13th congressional district. He received 18.6% of the vote, losing to Theresa de Leon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?id=NJ13&cycle=2000 |title=Congressional Races| publisher=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061227100229/http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?id=NJ13&cycle=2000|archive-date=2006-12-27|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2000-primary-elect-house-candidate-tallies.pdf|title=Official List Candidate Returns for House of Representatives For June 2000 Primary Election|date=17 April 2008|work=njelections.org|publisher=New Jersey Secretary of State|page=14|access-date=13 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822222239/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2000-primary-elect-house-candidate-tallies.pdf|archive-date=2012-08-22|url-status=live}}</ref> Turner has identified himself as the "Chairman of the Republican Party of Hudson County, NJ Corp," a group which has no connection to the official ] Republican Party recognized by the state and national party. According to news reports, Hudson County Republican officials have stated that Turner's party is a "paper corporation with little or no membership".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.getnj.com/onlygameintown/turnervazquez.shtml |title=GET NJ - Hudson County Hate Monger Hal Turner Faces Purple Heart Veteran Jaime Vazquez in Court<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2007-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212203032/http://www.getnj.com/onlygameintown/turnervazquez.shtml |archive-date=2006-12-12 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Kingston falls into line behind mayor's call to SPURN white supremacist rally"</ref> Ultimately, when the rally occurred on November 19, 2005, Turner and the National Vanguard attracted approximately 50 pro-white demonstrators, and a counter demonstration attracted about 100 people. <ref>http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/turner_051117.htm</ref>


In response to an October 7, 2005, ] against a white student by a Black student at ], Turner, working with the ] group ], organized a rally which he called a "rally against violence".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=356782|title=Woodstock Times: "Turning our backs in unity Kingston falls into line behind mayor's call to SPURN white supremacist rally"|access-date=2007-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523014201/http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=356782|archive-date=2006-05-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> He characterized the rally as both "pro-white" and "against violence".<ref name=DailyFreeman-rally>{{cite news | url=http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1769&dept_id=74969&newsid=15534522&PAG=461&rfi=9 | title=Supremacist vows KHS rally | publisher=] | year=2005 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927121105/http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1769&dept_id=74969&newsid=15534522&PAG=461&rfi=9 | archive-date=2007-09-27 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The victim's mother chose not to attend the rally.<ref name=DailyFreeman-rally />{{Dead link|date=November 2015}} In response, local residents, including political and religious leaders, organized a number of "Unity Rallies" with a tolerance theme.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=356782 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523014201/http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=356782 | archive-date=2006-05-23 | title=Turning our backs in unity Kingston falls into line behind mayor's call to SPURN white supremacist rally | publisher=] | date= 2005-11-18 | first=Paul | last=Smart | access-date =2009-07-15}}</ref> When the rally occurred on November 19, 2005, Turner and the National Vanguard attracted approximately 50 demonstrators, compared to the 100 counter-demonstrators.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/turner_051117.htm | title=Hal Turner, White Supremacists Exploit Tensions in Kingston, NY | publisher=] | year=2005 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527012820/http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/turner_051117.htm | archive-date=2009-05-27 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Turner called for the attacker to be charged with a ], but the case resulted in the perpetrator being indicted as an adult with two ] counts: ] and attempted assault instead.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://dailyfreeman.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=15749825&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74969&rfi=8 | title=KHS teen indicted for assault, not hate crime | publisher=] | date=December 14, 2005 | first=Mary | last=Fairchild | access-date=2009-07-15 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1769&dept_id=74969&newsid=15534522&PAG=461&rfi=9 | title=Supremacist vows KHS rally | publisher=] | year=2005 | first=Paul | last=Kirby | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927121105/http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1769&dept_id=74969&newsid=15534522&PAG=461&rfi=9 | archive-date=2007-09-27 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Fight with deputy mayor of Jersey City==
On April 12, 2006, Turner had a physical altercation with Jaime Vazquez, a former ] Deputy Mayor and member of the ] Council (at the time Vazquez was Jersey City Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs). Vazquez, a disabled, ]-awarded ] veteran, was protesting in front of Turner's house in response to Turner's hiring an airplane to carry a banner with an anti-Mexican slur over a political rally at Jersey City's ]. ''The North Bergen Reporter'' quoted Turner as saying "(t)he illegal immigrants are breaking the law, and people like me should break the law as well by shooting them down."<ref></ref> In response, Vazquez picketed with a sign reading: "Hal Turner -- shoot me! Racists and bigots like you are cowards." Turner confronted Vazquez and a fight ensued, in the course of which Vazquez suffered a back injury and a fractured wrist.<ref>UPI Wire ''The Post Chronicle'' ], ]</ref>


On April 12, 2006, Turner had a physical altercation with Jaime Vazquez, a former ] deputy mayor and a member of the Jersey City Council, who was the Jersey City Commissioner of Veterans Affairs at the time. ''The North Bergen Reporter'' quoted Turner as saying "(t)he ] are breaking the law, and people like me should break the law as well by shooting them down." In response, Vazquez picketed with a sign reading "Hal Turner — shoot me! ] and ] like you are cowards."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2408387/article-Battle-with-NB-white-supremacist-continues-Former-JC-Councilman-Vasquez--controversial-host-Hal-Turner-get-into-physical-altercation |title=The Hudson Reporter - No charges in case of ex-councilman v. white supremacistNorth Bergen judge rules Turner, Vazquez not guilty<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2016-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109024520/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2408387/article-Battle-with-NB-white-supremacist-continues-Former-JC-Councilman-Vasquez--controversial-host-Hal-Turner-get-into-physical-altercation |archive-date=2010-11-09 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was followed by a physical confrontation, during which Vazquez suffered a back injury and a fractured wrist. Turner and Vazquez later filed criminal charges against each other. On July 16, 2006 ] Municipal Court Judge Joseph Romano found both men to be equally credible and thus neither criminally liable.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2408387/article-Battle-with-NB-white-supremacist-continues-Former-JC-Councilman-Vasquez--controversial-host-Hal-Turner-get-into-physical-altercation | title=No charges in case of ex-councilman v. white supremacist | publisher=] | date=July 16, 2006 | first=Jim | last=Hague | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109024520/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2408387/article-Battle-with-NB-white-supremacist-continues-Former-JC-Councilman-Vasquez--controversial-host-Hal-Turner-get-into-physical-altercation | archive-date=2010-11-09 | url-status=live }}</ref>
Turner and Vazquez filed criminal charges against each other. On July 16, 2006 ] Municipal Court Judge Joseph "Jay" Romano found neither man criminally liable. Judge Romano's decision stated: "Frankly, I find both witnesses to be credible. I find both witnesses to be vehement in espousing their views and because their views diverge, there has to be some tension. Who pushed who is something this court cannot determine beyond a reasonable doubt."<ref>Jim Hague Hudson Reporter/NorthBergenReporter.com ], ]</ref>

==Broadcasting and website issues==
In 2002, Turner started broadcasting, but quit the show in July 2008<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2008/winter/extremist-media | title=Racist Radio, Newspaper Close Up Shops | publisher=] | date=Winter 2008 | access-date=2011-04-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415115547/http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2008/winter/extremist-media | archive-date=2011-04-15 | url-status=live }}</ref> and resumed broadcasting it in April 2009 as the Turner Radio Network. In August 2008 his website also closed. Although he retained a ], it was shut down by his host, ]'s ], for violations of ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-hal-turner-to-surrender-0611,0,5413334.story | title=Right-Wing Blogger Hal Turner Surrenders To Capitol Police | publisher=] | date=June 11, 2009 | access-date=2011-04-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009103313/http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-hal-turner-to-surrender-0611,0,5413334.story | archive-date=2012-10-09 | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Origin of China eminent domain hoax===
In February 2009, Turner posted an article on his blog entitled: "FEDS GRANT ] AS COLLATERAL TO ] FOR U.S. DEBTS!" claiming that a secret agreement had been made to allow China to physically take U.S. land, in the event of a U.S. default.<ref name="FEDS GRANT EMINENT DOMAIN AS COLLATERAL TO CHINA FOR U.S. DEBTS!">{{cite web | url=http://halturnershow.blogspot.com/2009/02/feds-grant-eminent-domain-as-collateral.html/| title=Hal Turner Show | access-date=2009-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302062835/http://www.halturnershow.blogspot.com/2009/02/feds-grant-eminent-domain-as-collateral.html |archive-date=2009-03-02}}</ref> The story created "hundreds of identical Internet replications" according to ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/domain.asp | title=Snopes: Feds Grant China Eminent Domain | publisher=] | date= March 2009 | access-date =2011-04-15 |quote=... the story appears only in the blog of former radio host Hal Turner ... and in hundreds of identical Internet replications.}}</ref>

===Anonymous website raid===
Turner stated that in December 2006 and January 2007 individuals who identified themselves as members of the group ] took Turner's website offline, costing him thousands of dollars in ] bills. On January 19, 2007, Turner sued ], ], 7chan, Abjects ] network, and other websites for ]. On January 22, 2007, he lost his plea for an injunction. In February 2007 4chan responded to the lawsuit. In April 2007, the judge asked the parties to submit information to schedule proceedings. However, Turner failed to respond. Mail from the court to Turner was returned as "Undeliverable". The judge dismissed the case in December 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-njdce/case_no-2:2007cv00306/case_id-198438/ | publisher=Justia | title=Harold C. "Hal" Turner v. 4chan.org | access-date=2007-07-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420131458/http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-njdce/case_no-2:2007cv00306/case_id-198438/ | archive-date=2008-04-20 | url-status=live }}</ref>

===FBI informant===
Turner was a paid informant for the ] (FBI) for several years, supplying information about ] groups to federal agents.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/north_bergen_blogger_accused_o.html | title=North Bergen blogger accused of threatening federal judges is held without bail | publisher=] | date=August 10, 2009 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814125838/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/north_bergen_blogger_accused_o.html | archive-date=2009-08-14 | url-status=live }}</ref> The original allegations that Turner acted as an informant for the FBI surfaced in 2008 after unidentified ] claimed on Turner's website's forums that they had read email correspondences between him and an FBI agent, apparently his ]. This led to a discussion on a ] website on January 10, 2008, in which Turner revealed that he was quitting political work, ending his radio show and separating "from the 'pro-White' movement". The FBI has declined to comment on the matter.<ref name="FBIinformraid">{{cite news|first= Mark|last= Potok|title= FBI's Use of Neo-Nazi Informant Knocked|url= http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=880|work= ]|publisher= ]|access-date= 2009-08-26|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090817194832/http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=880|archive-date= 2009-08-17|url-status= dead}}</ref> The ]<ref>{{cite news|first= Brentin|last= Mock|author2= Potoc, Mark|title= Virginia Developer is USA's Loudest Neo-Nazi|url= http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=877|work= ]|publisher= ]|access-date= 2008-03-26|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080313210144/http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=877|archive-date= 2008-03-13|url-status= dead}}</ref> and the ] reported on the emails that "a neo-Nazi Website had posted material reportedly found by the hackers, including alleged exchanges between himself and law enforcement agents which indicated that Turner had been providing information to them."<ref>{{cite news|title= Hal Turner Claims to Leave Movement After Accusations of Being an Informant|url= http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/hturner_claim.htm|publisher= ]|date= 2008-01-18|access-date= 2008-03-26|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080505084811/http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/hturner_claim.htm|archive-date= 2008-05-05|url-status= dead}}</ref>

On July 28, 2009, in a ] courtroom, Turner's defense lawyer said that Turner worked as a paid informant for the FBI.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/07/radio-host-denies-threatening-federal-judges.html | title=Radio host denies threatening federal judges | publisher=] | date=July 28, 2009 | access-date=2009-07-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731024430/http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/07/radio-host-denies-threatening-federal-judges.html | archive-date=2009-07-31 | url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2009, '']'' published an investigative report on Turner's "complex" relationship with the FBI and Federal ], noting that all parties broke off contact at several points.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/Records_show_feds_used_ultra-right_radio_host_for_years.html | title=Records show feds used ultra-right radio host for years | publisher=] | date=November 29, 2009 | access-date=2009-12-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202065420/http://www.northjersey.com/news/Records_show_feds_used_ultra-right_radio_host_for_years.html | archive-date=2009-12-02 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Turner's information led to the arrests of the ] militia, with Turner's FBI handler serving as the prosecution's witness.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/2615285501.html?FMT=ABS&date=Mar+22%2C+2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713153233/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/2615285501.html?FMT=ABS&date=Mar+22,+2012 | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 13, 2012 | title=Defense in Hutaree militia trial asks for a mistrial | publisher=] | date=March 21, 2012 | access-date=2012-04-26 }}</ref>

Michael A. Orozco, Turner's lawyer said, "I don't think he was a racist. He was doing a lot of those things at the behest of the FBI."<ref name="WalksFree">{{cite news | url=http://www.salon.com/2012/10/09/shock_jock_neo_nazi_walks_free/ | title=Shock jock Neo-Nazi walks free | publisher=] | date=October 9, 2012 | access-date=2012-10-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014044221/http://www.salon.com/2012/10/09/shock_jock_neo_nazi_walks_free/ | archive-date=2012-10-14 | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Return to radio===
On October 7, 2015, Turner returned to radio for the weekly, two hour ''Hal Turner Show'', broadcast on ] station ] and over the internet.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.wbcq.com/?p=907 | title=The Hal Turner Show returns to WBCQ | access-date=2015-10-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027224412/http://www.wbcq.com/?p=907 | archive-date=2015-10-27 | url-status=dead }}</ref> For a time in 2015, Turner promoted another broadcast over "Superstation 95," a ] station in the New York City area. The show aired until February 1, 2017, and then resumed on July 5, 2017, eventually adding two more shortwave affiliates, ] and ]. Turner stated at the end of March 2019 that he had run out of funds to keep the show on WBCQ and WRMI. An associated fundraising appeal was a success, and Turner expanded his broadcast to a daily show.


==Threats against judges and political figures== ==Threats against judges and political figures==
Turner has a history of making threats against various public figures.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.adl.org/learn/extremism_in_the_news/White_Supremacy/hal_turner_threats_10305.htm | title=Hal Turner and His Supporters Threaten Officials and Other Targets of Their Hate | publisher=] | date=October 3, 2005 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604092036/http://www.adl.org/learn/extremism_in_the_news/White_Supremacy/hal_turner_threats_10305.htm | archive-date=2011-06-04 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2005, Turner publicized the names of three federal court judges who handled lawsuits involving ], a white supremacist convicted of soliciting the murder of a federal judge.<ref name="adl">{{cite news|title= White Supremacist Radio Host Urges Bombings, Assassinations|url= http://www.adl.org/learn/news/Suprem_Urge_Bomb.asp|publisher= ]|date= 2005-08-22|access-date= 2008-02-16|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080424023947/http://www.adl.org/learn/news/Suprem_Urge_Bomb.asp|archive-date= 2008-04-24|url-status= dead}}</ref> Turner posted the judges' names and addresses on his Web site.<ref name="adl"/><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403063027/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/02/national/02chicago.html |date=2015-04-03 }} ] March 2, 2005</ref>
On January 3, 2005, Turner's website showed a map of the route of the presidential inaugural parade with text reading: "it seems to me there can be no protection against a "]" type of mortar attack or a ]-type rocket attack launched from outside the security zone. Rest assured, if the fed’s get wiped out, I’ll be cheering the TV set!"<ref>http://www.adl.org/learn/news/Suprem_Urge_Bomb.asp</ref>


On December 6, 2006, Turner announced on his website:
In 2005, Turner publicized the names of three federal court judges who handled lawsuits involving ]. Hale, the leader of a white supremacist group formerly known as the ], is currently serving a 40-year sentence for soliciting an undercover FBI informant to kill federal judge ]. Turner posted the judges' names and addresses on his Web site, stating that they "need to be reined in". According to the '']'', Turner stated on his radio show that "Judge Lefkow was 'worthy of being killed,' adding that 'it wouldn't be legal, but in my opinion it wouldn't be wrong.'" <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/02/national/02chicago.html?pagewanted=2&%2338;ei=5088&%2338;en=56f931385cef66a2&ex=1267592400</ref>On February 28, 2005, Judge Lefkow's husband and mother were found murdered. On March 5, 2005, Turner posted on his website a photograph of Judge Lefkow under the word "GOTCHA!"<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20050306050752/http://www.halturnershow.com/</ref> That same day, Turner read the three judges names during an appearance on the ] television program "]".<ref>http://www.adl.org/learn/news/Suprem_Urge_Bomb.asp</ref>


<blockquote>We may have to ASSASSINATE some of the people you elect on Nov. 7! This could be your LAST ELECTION CHANCE, to save this Republic ... Sorry to have to be so blunt, but the country is in mortal danger from our present government and our liberty is already near dead because of this government. If you are too stupid to turn things around with your vote, there are people out here like me who are willing to turn things around with guns, force and violence. We hope our method does not become necessary<ref>Staff {May 5, 2011} '']''</ref></blockquote>
On his Oct. 25, 2006 webcast, Turner told his audience: "I fully expect now that I gave out the home addresses and phone numbers of the ] that I will have the ] here tomorrow again. Well, I'm not going to shut up. I am not going to stop putting these ideas in people's heads because violence solves everything. And if some very angry people were to go down to some of those judges' houses and tune them up, oh sure, they might get thrown in jail, but that would send a shockwave to the rest of those (expletive) in black robes that they can be gotten to." After adding that it would take some time for police to respond to a 911 call, he stated, "How many times you think you can bash someone in the head with a sledgehammer in two or three minutes?"{{fact|date=December 2007}}


Since the announcement was made, Turner has had difficulties finding a host for his website. He alleged that his website has been the target of ] attacks, and subsequently filed a ] lawsuit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://halturnershow.blogspot.com//2006/12/my-web-site-has-been-turned-off.html|title=Hal Turner Show}}</ref><ref>]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031553/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/020707dnnathate.1ae2563.html |date=2007-09-30 }}. February 6, 2007</ref><ref> (defunct as of 11-07-07)</ref>
Turner went on to say that his listeners should phone, write and visit the homes of four of the justices, including the then-chief justice, to show that "they can be gotten to." Turner then announced the addresses of ], the lone African-American on the justice court, ], a justice who co-authored the state's Gay Unions decision, then-Chief Justice ], who wrote a more liberal dissent favoring the right of gays to marry, and that of Justice ].


On April 4, 2008, Turner encouraged violence against ], school superintendent Paul Ash for establishing a new curriculum supporting ]. On his website, he stated:
After this, the justices of the New Jersey Supreme Court received heightened police protection, which continues to this day. According to the '']'', after Turner's threat, police searched the area around the ] home of Justice ] for intruders 200 times as of March, 2007.<ref>http://www.newhouse.com/n.j.-supreme-court-justices-under-guard-after-threat-3.html N.J. Supreme Court Justices Under Guard After Threat</ref>


<blockquote>I advocate parents using FORCE AND VIOLENCE against Superintendent Paul B. Ash as a method of defending the health and safety of school children presently being endangered through his ] indoctrination into deadly, disease-ridden ] lifestyles.<ref name=metrowest> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411151242/http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/state/x2084320886 |date=2008-04-11 }}</ref></blockquote>
On ], ], Turner announced on his website:
<blockquote>''We may have to ASSASSINATE some of the people you elect on Nov. 7! This could be your LAST ELECTION CHANCE, to save this Republic... Sorry to have to be so blunt, but the country is in mortal danger from our present government and our liberty is already near dead because of this government. If you are too stupid to turn things around with your vote, there are people out here like me who are willing to turn things around with guns, force and violence. We hope our method does not become necessary''.<ref name=WorldNewsDaily5> ], ], ]</ref></blockquote>
He went on to provide Ash's personal information, including his address.<ref name=metrowest/> Fourteen months later, on June 2, 2009, Turner posted on his blog


<blockquote>Let me be the first to say this plainly: These judges deserve to be killed. Their blood will replenish the tree of liberty. A small price to pay to assure freedom for millions.</blockquote>
According to news reports, the ] and ] have refused to comment about ongoing investigations of Hal Turner.<ref name=WorldNewsDaily5> ], ], ]</ref> Since his threats were made public, Turner has had difficulties finding a host for his website. He has alleged that his website has been the target of ] attacks, and has filed a ''pro se'' lawsuit concerning this issue. <ref></ref> <ref>]. . ], ]</ref> <ref> (defunct as of 11-07-07)</ref> Turner claimed that he had contacted the ] in the matter of the ] attacks. As of July 25, 2007, his website was back online.


The next day Turner posted information on how to find Chief Judge ] and Judges ] and ].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/06/blogger-threatened-to-murder-judges-feds-say/ | title=Blogger Threatened to Murder Judges, Feds Say | publisher=] | date=June 24, 2009 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721104932/http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/06/blogger-threatened-to-murder-judges-feds-say | archive-date=2009-07-21 | url-status=live }}</ref>
==Radio show and website raids==
In December 2006 and January 2007, individuals who identified themselves as ] "raided" Hal Turner's website, taking it offline.{{fact|date=January 2007}} Turner retaliated by sending a "formal legal notice of criminal activity in violation of several federal laws" by email to 7chan, multacom, and multicom, as well as redirecting his domain to 420chan.org, causing that site to take a bandwidth hit as well.{{fact|date=January 2007}} Turner also sued 4chan, 7chan, and other websites in court over copyright infringement, however he lost his plea for an injunction and failed to receive letters from the court.<ref>http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-njdce/case_no-2:2007cv00306/case_id-198438/] </ref>


===Arrests, trials, and conviction===
==Alleged FBI connection==
On June 3, 2009, Turner was arrested in New Jersey and charged with inciting injury to two politicians in ] and a state ethics official.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-web-turner-arrestjun04,0,7073648.story|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20100608122810/http://articles.courant.com/2009-06-04/news/hc-turner-arrest.artjun04_1_radio-host-hal-turner-beastly-government-officials-state-ethics-office|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-06-08|title=Radio Host Hal Turner Charged With Inciting Injury To Two Connecticut Lawmakers|last=Altimari|first=Daniela|date=2009-06-04|publisher=Hartford Courant|access-date=2009-06-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_12513294 |title=N.J. man charged in threats against legislators |last=Dixon |first=Ken |date=2009-06-04 |publisher=Connecticut Post |access-date=2009-06-04 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The warrant issued was for inciting his website's readers to "take up arms" against the officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/police_nj_blogger_called_for_a.html|title=Police: N.J. blogger called for attack on police|date=2009-06-03|agency=Associated Press|access-date=2009-06-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611145809/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/police_nj_blogger_called_for_a.html|archive-date=2009-06-11|url-status=live}}</ref> Two weeks later, Turner was re-arrested on June 24, 2009, at his New Jersey home for making threats against the judges of the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/06/blogger-arrested-in-threats-on-federal-judges.html | title=Blogger arrested in threats on federal judges | publisher=Chicago Tribune | date=June 24, 2009 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627104912/http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/06/blogger-arrested-in-threats-on-federal-judges.html | archive-date=2009-06-27 | url-status=live }}</ref> When he was arrested, FBI officials seized 200 rounds of ammunition as well as three handguns and one shotgun. In the federal case, Turner was denied bail.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/06/court_bombshell_200_rounds_of.html | title=200 rounds of ammo, hollow-point bullets seized from hate blogger Turner's home | publisher=] | date=June 25, 2009 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629053734/http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/06/court_bombshell_200_rounds_of.html | archive-date=2009-06-29 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/northbergen/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1246515925264120.xml | title=Turner denied bail and judge says: Next stop, Chicago | publisher=] | date=Jul 1, 2009 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605141908/http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/northbergen/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-0%2F1246515925264120.xml | archive-date=2011-06-05 | url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 10, 2008, the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record reported that "the Hal Turner Show is finished".<ref>Paul Brooks, "Hal Turner Ends Broadcasts", Times Herald-Record, January 10, 2008</ref> A notice appearing on Turner's website says: "SPECIAL NOTICE: As of January 9, 2008, TRN is totally re-organizing. We no longer insist on a "pro-White" theme for shows and intend to expand to all views and opinions."{{fact|date=January 2008}} A front-page story in the January 23, 2008, issue of the Ulster County (NY) Press cites a January 11, 2008, ] "HateWatch" article indicating that hackers had gotten into Turner's computer and discovered e-mails suggesting that Turner had been working as an informant for the FBI.<ref>"White Supremacist Turner Working for FBI?", Ulster County Press, January 23, 2008</ref><ref>Mark Potok, "Neo-Nazi Threatmaker Accused of Working for FBI", HateWatch, January 11, 2008</ref>


On June 30, 2009, the website for Turner's blog was shut down and replaced with a notice stating that the site had been taken down by Turner's family, directing interested parties to a blog for the Family of Hal Turner, with entries by his mother.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://family-of-hal-turner.blogspot.com/ | title=Family of Hal Turner | publisher=] | date=July 2009 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117182738/http://family-of-hal-turner.blogspot.com/ | archive-date=2010-01-17 | url-status=live }}</ref>
==Return of the radio show==
As of the 28th January 2008, Hal Turner's website was back online and broadcasted a show at 9pm on the 30th. On that show, he stated that the e-mails that implicated his being an FBI informant were fabricated. The show also retained the racist and anti-Semitic content from his previous shows.


====''United States v. Turner''====
==Footnotes==
{{Wikisource|United States v. Turner (Sentencing Memorandum)|Government's Sentencing Memorandum: United States of America vs Harold Turner}}
{{reflist}}

On July 28, 2009, in the case of ''United States v. Turner'' in Chicago, Turner pleaded not guilty to threatening to kill three federal appellate judges there and then sought his release from custody, saying he had been an informant for the FBI.<ref name="FBISource">{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jGjfCkbb0lJpx4RYiwNr1BrjYgnAD99NMMHO0 |title=Lawyer: Man accused of judge threat was FBI source |agency=Associated Press |date=July 28, 2009 |access-date=2009-07-28 }}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The judge gave Turner ten days "to produce concrete evidence of Turner's help to the FBI or federal marshals."<ref name="FBISource"/>
On August 11, Turner was denied bail again. The judge cited the fact that Turner, from his prison cell, recorded and posted on the internet a telephone conversation that included the names of his arresting FBI agents. The judge said that Turner's act "tells me something about the disposition of Mr. Turner."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1709890,CST-NWS-blogger11.article | title=Man accused of threatening judges was a paid informant for the FBI | publisher=] | date=August 11, 2009 | access-date=2009-07-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814112644/http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1709890,CST-NWS-blogger11.article | archive-date=2009-08-14 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

His lawyer said the defense would use "Turner's background as an FBI informant" and argue that he was "trained by the FBI" as "an ]" to incite people.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-web-hal-turner-0819aug19,0,1700724.story | title=Blogger arrested in threats on federal judges | publisher=] | date=August 18, 2009 | access-date=2009-09-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821175313/http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-web-hal-turner-0819aug19,0,1700724.story | archive-date=2009-08-21 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>
{{cite news
|url = http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/firstamendment/2009/11/upcoming-cases-test-scope-of-online-speech-protection.html
|title = Upcoming trials test the boundary between 'true threats' and hyperbolic on-line speech
|date = 2009-11-24
|author = Kathleen Bergin
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091205101837/http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/firstamendment/2009/11/upcoming-cases-test-scope-of-online-speech-protection.html
|archive-date = 2009-12-05
|access-date = 2009-12-02
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>
In late October 2009 Turner was freed on $500,000 bond, and was ordered not to use a computer or any device that can access the Internet.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1256279109115490.xml | title=Hate blogger Hal Turner is free on $500G bond but cannot access the internet | publisher=] | date=October 23, 2009 | access-date=2009-11-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605184434/http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-4%2F1256279109115490.xml | archive-date=2011-06-05 | url-status=live }}</ref> His trial started on November 30, 2009, and ended on December 4, 2009, with the defense opting not to call any witnesses.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/120309_Both_sides_rest_in_trial_of_North_Jersey_shock_jock.html | title=Both sides rest in trial of North Jersey shock jock | publisher=] | date=Dec 3, 2009 | access-date=2009-12-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829143613/http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/120309_Both_sides_rest_in_trial_of_North_Jersey_shock_jock.html | archive-date=2012-08-29 | url-status=live }}</ref> After two hours of deliberation, the jury announced it was deadlocked.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/120409_Jury_deadlocked_in_case_of_North_Bergen_shock_jock_Hal_Turner.html | title=Jury deadlocked in case of North Bergen shock jock Hal Turner | publisher=] | date=Dec 4, 2009 | access-date=2009-12-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208024656/http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/120409_Jury_deadlocked_in_case_of_North_Bergen_shock_jock_Hal_Turner.html | archive-date=2009-12-08 | url-status=live }}</ref> Three days later the judge declared a ], and a ] was set for March 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/12/hate-blogger-mistrial/ | title=Mistrial in Case of Hate Blogger Charged With Judge Threats | publisher=Wired | date=Dec 7, 2009 | access-date=2009-12-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210210308/http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/12/hate-blogger-mistrial | archive-date=2009-12-10 | url-status=live }}</ref> This second trial, overseen by ] judge ], was moved from the ] to the ]: since the prosecution was to call the three judges to the stand, the defense felt that Turner would not get a fair hearing if the trial was conducted in the same city where the judges worked.<ref name="marek225">{{cite news|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202444630931&src=EMC-Email&et=editorial&bu=National%20Law%20Journal&pt=NLJ.com-%20Daily%20Headlines&cn=20100226NLJ&kw=7th%20Circuit%20judges%20may%20testify%20in%20retrial%20over%20Web%20threats&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1|title=7th Circuit judges may testify in retrial over Web threats|last=Marek|first=Lynne|date=February 25, 2010|work=]|access-date=26 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607105922/http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202444630931&src=EMC-Email&et=editorial&bu=National%20Law%20Journal&pt=NLJ.com-%20Daily%20Headlines&cn=20100226NLJ&kw=7th%20Circuit%20judges%20may%20testify%20in%20retrial%20over%20Web%20threats&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1|archive-date=2011-06-07|url-status=live}}</ref> A mistrial was declared on March 10.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/10/internet-radio-hosts-case-ends-in-mistrial/ | work=The New York Times | title=Internet Radio Host's Case Ends in Mistrial | first=A. G. | last=Sulzberger | date=2010-03-10 | access-date=2010-05-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314075447/http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/10/internet-radio-hosts-case-ends-in-mistrial/ | archive-date=2010-03-14 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2010, his third trial began and on August 31, after three days of testimony, the jury found Turner guilty.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://articles.cnn.com/2010-08-13/justice/newyork.turner.conviction_1_hal-turner-federal-judges-chief-judge-frank-easterbrook |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120707093709/http://articles.cnn.com/2010-08-13/justice/newyork.turner.conviction_1_hal-turner-federal-judges-chief-judge-frank-easterbrook |url-status = dead |archive-date = July 7, 2012 |title = Jury finds shock jock Hal Turner guilty of threatening judges |publisher = ] |date = Aug 13, 2010 }}</ref><ref name=HudsonReporterYIR>"Local shock jock sentenced to almost three years in prison", '']'', December 26, 2010, page 13</ref> On 21 December 2010, he was sentenced to 33 months in prison. Upon completion of his sentence, he was barred from participating in Internet or satellite radio programming for three years.<ref name=HudsonReporterYIR/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/122110_Shock_jock_Hal_Turner_gets_33-month_prison_sentence.html |title=Shock jock Hal Turner gets 33-month prison sentence |publisher=NorthJersey.com |date=Dec 21, 2010 |access-date=2010-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224105803/http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/122110_Shock_jock_Hal_Turner_gets_33-month_prison_sentence.html |archive-date=2010-12-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> In his sentencing memorandum, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald made the following comment:

<blockquote>For years, Turner has engaged in a campaign of intimidation against public officials and private citizens alike. Even Turner's arrest in this case failed to deter him. Turner continued his tactics by using intimidation against a key witness in the government's case against him. All the while, Turner has displayed defiance and no regret for his actions. Turner remains utterly incapable of acknowledging the genuine fear experienced by his innumerable victims – that is, except when ''he'' is the victim of a perceived threat. Turner has committed a serious crime, engaged in witness intimidation, lied repeatedly under oath, and has shown no regret whatsoever.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cheatingfrenzy.com/turner119.pdf |title=Government's Sentencing Memorandum: United States of America vs Harold Turner, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 09 CR 650 |access-date=2010-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708141441/http://www.cheatingfrenzy.com/turner119.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-08 |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

After his conviction, Turner was incarcerated in the ],<ref>''United States of America vs Harold Turner, Government's Sentencing Memorandum'' 2010</ref> and was later moved to the ].<ref name="NorthJersey.com">{{cite web |url = http://www.northjersey.com/news/North_Bergen_shock_jock_Hal_Turner_says_he_is_a_terrorist_target_in_federal_lock-up.html |title = North Bergen shock jock Hal Turner says he is a terrorist target in federal lock-up |publisher = NorthJersey.com |date = May 18, 2011 |access-date = 2011-05-19 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522183625/http://www.northjersey.com/news/North_Bergen_shock_jock_Hal_Turner_says_he_is_a_terrorist_target_in_federal_lock-up.html |archive-date = 2011-05-22 |url-status = live }}</ref> In May, he sent letters to '']'' saying he is one of 38 people housed in ] in the prison Terre Haute with terrorists, like ], and fears for his life once fellow prisoners find out he was a government informant.<ref name="NorthJersey.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index.ssf/2011/05/daily_poll_was_the_government.html |title = Was the government right to assign Hal Turner to a prison unit with notorious terrorists? |publisher = ] |date = May 18, 2011 |access-date = 2011-05-19 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522174101/http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index.ssf/2011/05/daily_poll_was_the_government.html |archive-date = 2011-05-22 |url-status = live }}</ref>

During his incarceration, Turner declared bankruptcy, and his wife filed for divorce.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.wfsb.com/news/27323892/detail.html| title=Blogger In Court On Threatening Charges| publisher=]| date=March 25, 2011| access-date=2011-04-14| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411004025/http://www.wfsb.com/news/27323892/detail.html| archive-date=2011-04-11| url-status=dead}}</ref>

In August 2011, Turner filed an appeal for his conviction. He claimed that the government "failed to substantiate the charge" and asked to be released pending the appeal.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/North_Bergen_shock_jock_Turner_appeals_conviction_for_threatening_judges.html | title=North Bergen shock jock Turner appeals conviction for threatening judges | publisher=] | date=August 23, 2011 | access-date=2011-04-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001182852/http://www.northjersey.com/news/North_Bergen_shock_jock_Turner_appeals_conviction_for_threatening_judges.html | archive-date=2012-10-01 | url-status=live }}</ref>

====''Connecticut v. Turner''====
In July 2009 the Connecticut case was handed to a division of the state court that handles more serious matters.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20090714_ap_njbloggersviolencecaseinconncontinued.html |title=NJ blogger's violence case in Conn. continued |publisher=] |date=July 14, 2009 |access-date=2009-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718051927/http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20090714_ap_njbloggersviolencecaseinconncontinued.html |archive-date=July 18, 2009 }}</ref> In early February 2011, Turner appeared in a Hartford court for the ''Connecticut v. Turner'' pre-trial hearing on three counts of inciting injuries to persons.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/02/north_bergen_shock_jock_hal_tu.html | title=North Bergen "shock jock" Hal Turner in Connecticut tomorrow for hearing on charges he encouraged violence against lawmakers | publisher=The Jersey Journal | date=February 15, 2011 | access-date=2011-03-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219112617/http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/02/north_bergen_shock_jock_hal_tu.html | archive-date=2011-02-19 | url-status=live }}</ref> The three felony counts Turner faced each carried one to 10 years in prison.<ref name="BloggerWants"/>

In late February 2011, the federal government reported that e-mails "show it appears Turner plans to pursue judicial and law-enforcement officials after he's released from prison." On February 2, Turner wrote "when I get out, I'm gonna go after some 'problems' and take care of them in a manner that will be horrific."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-02-28/u-s-wants-to-destroy-convicted-blogger-hal-turner-s-guns.html| title=U.S. Wants to Destroy Convicted Blogger Hal Turner's Guns| publisher=]| date=February 28, 2011| access-date=2011-03-15| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306184738/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-02-28/u-s-wants-to-destroy-convicted-blogger-hal-turner-s-guns.html| archive-date=2011-03-06| url-status=dead}}</ref>

On March 25, 2011, Turner appeared in Hartford asking the court to be allowed to change his attorney, telling the judge, "I have no confidence in his ability to defend me."<ref name="AttorneyChange">{{cite news| url=http://www.wfsb.com/news/27323892/detail.html| title=Blogger In Court On Threatening Charges| publisher=]| date=March 25, 2011| access-date=2011-03-28| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411004025/http://www.wfsb.com/news/27323892/detail.html| archive-date=2011-04-11| url-status=dead}}</ref> The judge reluctantly allowed him to change his private attorney for a public defender citing Turner's unusually bad year.<ref name="AttorneyChange"/> On April 7, with a public defender at his side, Turner pleaded not guilty and the case will go to trial.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/blogger-charged-with-encouraging-violence-against-conn-lawmakers-is-taking-his-case-to-trial/2011/04/07/AFR5XNxC_story.html | title=Blogger charged with encouraging violence against Conn. lawmakers is taking his case to trial | newspaper=] | date= April 7, 2011 | access-date =2011-04-10}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In July 2011, Turner's public defender asked for the case to be dismissed, saying Turner's statements were free speech and that Connecticut courts did not have jurisdiction because his threats were made in New Jersey.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/07/north_bergen_hate_blogger_hal_1.html | title=North Bergen hate blogger Hal Turner set to argue case in Connecticut should be dismissed on free speech grounds | publisher=] | date=July 24, 2011 | access-date=2011-07-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017080428/http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/07/north_bergen_hate_blogger_hal_1.html | archive-date=2012-10-17 | url-status=live }}</ref> Prosecutor Thomas Garcia responded that Turner himself wrote that his intent behind the writing was to "foment direct action" against the lawmakers "personally."<ref name="BloggerWants">{{cite news | url=http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-blogger-threatsjul26,0,4986941.story | title=Blogger wants Conn. 'take up arms' charges tossed | publisher=] | date=July 26, 2011 | access-date=2011-07-24 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In September 2011, Turner asked Judge ] for permission to represent himself after disagreeing with his public defender, John Stawicki, about defense strategy.<ref name="AttorneySelection">{{cite news | url=https://www.courant.com/2011/09/08/blogger-who-allegedly-incited-people-to-injure-officials-will-act-as-own-lawyer/ | title=Blogger Who Allegedly Incited People To Injure Officials Will Act As Own Lawyer | publisher=] | date=September 8, 2011 | access-date=2011-07-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813192133/http://articles.courant.com/2011-09-08/news/hc-hartford-harold-turner-trial-0909-20110908_1_harold-hal-turner-beastly-government-officials-jury-selection | archive-date=2012-08-13 | url-status=live }}</ref> Judge Schuman agreed, but Stawicki remained as stand-by counsel.<ref name="AttorneySelection"/> That same week jury selection began.<ref name="JurySelection">{{cite news | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=14466232 | title=Jury Being Chosen in 'Take up Arms' Blogger Trial | work=] | date= September 7, 2011 | access-date =2011-07-24}}</ref>

On September 16, 2011, after three hours of deliberation, Turner was found not guilty of "felony inciting injury to people and misdemeanor threatening."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nj.com/jjournal-weeklies/index.ssf/2011/09/north_bergen_blogger_wins_acqu.html | title=North Bergen blogger wins acquittal on Connecticut charges | publisher=] | date=Sep 23, 2011 | access-date=2011-09-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129095117/http://www.nj.com/jjournal-weeklies/index.ssf/2011/09/north_bergen_blogger_wins_acqu.html | archive-date=2015-11-29 | url-status=live }}</ref> After hugging his family, Turner was "escorted back into custody" to continue serving his sentence in the federal case.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.courant.com/2011-09-16/news/hc-hal-turner-trial-0917-20110916_1_beastly-government-officials-police-department-or-court-harold-hal-turner | title=Jury Gets Case Of Blogger Charged With Threatening State Lawmakers | publisher=] | date=September 16, 2011 | access-date=2011-09-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530233908/http://articles.courant.com/2011-09-16/news/hc-hal-turner-trial-0917-20110916_1_beastly-government-officials-police-department-or-court-harold-hal-turner | archive-date=2013-05-30 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Turner was released from prison on October 5, 2012.<ref name="bop">Harold Charles Turner, inmate # 30057-050; {{cite news | url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=IDSearch&needingMoreList=false&IDType=IRN&IDNumber=30057-050&x=73&y=13 | title=Inmate Locator | publisher=] | year=2011 | access-date=2015-10-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920174738/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=IDSearch&needingMoreList=false&IDType=IRN&IDNumber=30057-050&x=73&y=13 | archive-date=2012-09-20 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
* * (Turner's current site as of 2021)
* * archived at ]
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Latest revision as of 15:39, 29 September 2024

American holocaust denier and radio host

Hal Turner
BornHarold Charles Turner
(1962-03-15) March 15, 1962 (age 62)
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationRadio host

Harold Charles "Hal" Turner (born March 15, 1962) is an American political commentator and convicted felon from North Bergen, New Jersey.

Turner's viewpoints typically encompass Holocaust denial and white supremacy, and have included calls for assassination of government officials. In August 2010, he was convicted for making threats against three federal judges with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, for which he spent two years in prison.

Turner has sporadically hosted The Hal Turner Show, usually on shortwave radio station WBCQ, since 2002, as well as a corresponding blog, which has changed URLs frequently and has spread hoaxes and fake news.

Early life

Turner was born in Jersey City and raised in Union City and from age five in Ridgefield Park, where he attended Ridgefield Park High School. Prior to working on radio, Turner worked as a driver and a salesman.

Early career

Identifying himself as "Hal from North Bergen", Turner became notable in American conservative circles as a frequent caller to and supporter of WABC radio talk show hosts Bob Grant and Sean Hannity. Turner parlayed this fame into a role as the northern New Jersey coordinator for Patrick J. Buchanan's 1992 presidential campaign.

Turner claims he established a friendship with Sean Hannity, on whose radio program he had once been a frequent presence. In 2008, while Hannity and Malik Zulu Shabazz of the New Black Panther Party were debating Barack Obama's association with Jeremiah Wright, Shabazz asked Hannity if he should "be judged by (his) promotion and association with Hal Turner". Hannity began to say that he didn't know Turner, but then said he was someone he had banned from his radio program ten years before. Turner subsequently gave an account of their association on his website, in which he said of Hannity's response: "I was quite disappointed when Sean Hannity at first tried to say he didn't know me. In fact, Sean does know me and we were quite friendly a few years ago." Phil Boyce, Program Director of WABC, disputed the account, which described a friendship developing between Turner and Hannity in 1993, three years before Hannity was actually hired at WABC.

Turner became a talk radio host, joining fellow regular callers Frank from Queens and John from Staten Island to start the program The Right Perspective. Turner left the program in 2002, citing artistic differences. In 2002, Turner became a solo host, purchasing a time slot on shortwave radio station WBCQ, over which he broadcast for approximately four years. On WBCQ on March 22, 2004, he left the show "after harshly criticizing his supporters, listeners, and WBCQ." The show lacked financial support and Turner had health problems, leading to the temporary closure of his website and show.

Activism and assault claims

In the 2000 US congress election, Turner sought the Republican Party nomination for election to the United States Congress from New Jersey's 13th congressional district. He received 18.6% of the vote, losing to Theresa de Leon. Turner has identified himself as the "Chairman of the Republican Party of Hudson County, NJ Corp," a group which has no connection to the official Hudson County Republican Party recognized by the state and national party. According to news reports, Hudson County Republican officials have stated that Turner's party is a "paper corporation with little or no membership".

In response to an October 7, 2005, assault against a white student by a Black student at Kingston High School, Turner, working with the white nationalist group National Vanguard, organized a rally which he called a "rally against violence". He characterized the rally as both "pro-white" and "against violence". The victim's mother chose not to attend the rally. In response, local residents, including political and religious leaders, organized a number of "Unity Rallies" with a tolerance theme. When the rally occurred on November 19, 2005, Turner and the National Vanguard attracted approximately 50 demonstrators, compared to the 100 counter-demonstrators. Turner called for the attacker to be charged with a hate crime, but the case resulted in the perpetrator being indicted as an adult with two felony counts: assault and attempted assault instead.

On April 12, 2006, Turner had a physical altercation with Jaime Vazquez, a former Jersey City deputy mayor and a member of the Jersey City Council, who was the Jersey City Commissioner of Veterans Affairs at the time. The North Bergen Reporter quoted Turner as saying "(t)he illegal immigrants are breaking the law, and people like me should break the law as well by shooting them down." In response, Vazquez picketed with a sign reading "Hal Turner — shoot me! Racists and bigots like you are cowards." This was followed by a physical confrontation, during which Vazquez suffered a back injury and a fractured wrist. Turner and Vazquez later filed criminal charges against each other. On July 16, 2006 North Bergen Municipal Court Judge Joseph Romano found both men to be equally credible and thus neither criminally liable.

Broadcasting and website issues

In 2002, Turner started broadcasting, but quit the show in July 2008 and resumed broadcasting it in April 2009 as the Turner Radio Network. In August 2008 his website also closed. Although he retained a blog, it was shut down by his host, Google's Blogger, for violations of terms of service.

Origin of China eminent domain hoax

In February 2009, Turner posted an article on his blog entitled: "FEDS GRANT EMINENT DOMAIN AS COLLATERAL TO CHINA FOR U.S. DEBTS!" claiming that a secret agreement had been made to allow China to physically take U.S. land, in the event of a U.S. default. The story created "hundreds of identical Internet replications" according to Snopes.

Anonymous website raid

Turner stated that in December 2006 and January 2007 individuals who identified themselves as members of the group Anonymous took Turner's website offline, costing him thousands of dollars in bandwidth bills. On January 19, 2007, Turner sued 4chan, eBaum's World, 7chan, Abjects IRC network, and other websites for copyright infringement. On January 22, 2007, he lost his plea for an injunction. In February 2007 4chan responded to the lawsuit. In April 2007, the judge asked the parties to submit information to schedule proceedings. However, Turner failed to respond. Mail from the court to Turner was returned as "Undeliverable". The judge dismissed the case in December 2007.

FBI informant

Turner was a paid informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for several years, supplying information about right-wing groups to federal agents. The original allegations that Turner acted as an informant for the FBI surfaced in 2008 after unidentified hackers claimed on Turner's website's forums that they had read email correspondences between him and an FBI agent, apparently his handler. This led to a discussion on a neo-Nazi website on January 10, 2008, in which Turner revealed that he was quitting political work, ending his radio show and separating "from the 'pro-White' movement". The FBI has declined to comment on the matter. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League reported on the emails that "a neo-Nazi Website had posted material reportedly found by the hackers, including alleged exchanges between himself and law enforcement agents which indicated that Turner had been providing information to them."

On July 28, 2009, in a Chicago courtroom, Turner's defense lawyer said that Turner worked as a paid informant for the FBI. In December 2009, The Record published an investigative report on Turner's "complex" relationship with the FBI and Federal U.S. Marshal Service, noting that all parties broke off contact at several points.

Turner's information led to the arrests of the Hutaree militia, with Turner's FBI handler serving as the prosecution's witness.

Michael A. Orozco, Turner's lawyer said, "I don't think he was a racist. He was doing a lot of those things at the behest of the FBI."

Return to radio

On October 7, 2015, Turner returned to radio for the weekly, two hour Hal Turner Show, broadcast on shortwave radio station WBCQ and over the internet. For a time in 2015, Turner promoted another broadcast over "Superstation 95," a pirate radio station in the New York City area. The show aired until February 1, 2017, and then resumed on July 5, 2017, eventually adding two more shortwave affiliates, WRMI and WWCR. Turner stated at the end of March 2019 that he had run out of funds to keep the show on WBCQ and WRMI. An associated fundraising appeal was a success, and Turner expanded his broadcast to a daily show.

Threats against judges and political figures

Turner has a history of making threats against various public figures. In 2005, Turner publicized the names of three federal court judges who handled lawsuits involving Matt Hale, a white supremacist convicted of soliciting the murder of a federal judge. Turner posted the judges' names and addresses on his Web site.

On December 6, 2006, Turner announced on his website:

We may have to ASSASSINATE some of the people you elect on Nov. 7! This could be your LAST ELECTION CHANCE, to save this Republic ... Sorry to have to be so blunt, but the country is in mortal danger from our present government and our liberty is already near dead because of this government. If you are too stupid to turn things around with your vote, there are people out here like me who are willing to turn things around with guns, force and violence. We hope our method does not become necessary

Since the announcement was made, Turner has had difficulties finding a host for his website. He alleged that his website has been the target of denial of service attacks, and subsequently filed a pro se lawsuit.

On April 4, 2008, Turner encouraged violence against Lexington, Massachusetts, school superintendent Paul Ash for establishing a new curriculum supporting homosexuals. On his website, he stated:

I advocate parents using FORCE AND VIOLENCE against Superintendent Paul B. Ash as a method of defending the health and safety of school children presently being endangered through his politically-correct indoctrination into deadly, disease-ridden sodomite lifestyles.

He went on to provide Ash's personal information, including his address. Fourteen months later, on June 2, 2009, Turner posted on his blog

Let me be the first to say this plainly: These judges deserve to be killed. Their blood will replenish the tree of liberty. A small price to pay to assure freedom for millions.

The next day Turner posted information on how to find Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook and Judges Richard Posner and William J. Bauer.

Arrests, trials, and conviction

On June 3, 2009, Turner was arrested in New Jersey and charged with inciting injury to two politicians in Connecticut and a state ethics official. The warrant issued was for inciting his website's readers to "take up arms" against the officials. Two weeks later, Turner was re-arrested on June 24, 2009, at his New Jersey home for making threats against the judges of the United States Court of Appeals in Chicago. When he was arrested, FBI officials seized 200 rounds of ammunition as well as three handguns and one shotgun. In the federal case, Turner was denied bail.

On June 30, 2009, the website for Turner's blog was shut down and replaced with a notice stating that the site had been taken down by Turner's family, directing interested parties to a blog for the Family of Hal Turner, with entries by his mother.

United States v. Turner

On July 28, 2009, in the case of United States v. Turner in Chicago, Turner pleaded not guilty to threatening to kill three federal appellate judges there and then sought his release from custody, saying he had been an informant for the FBI. The judge gave Turner ten days "to produce concrete evidence of Turner's help to the FBI or federal marshals." On August 11, Turner was denied bail again. The judge cited the fact that Turner, from his prison cell, recorded and posted on the internet a telephone conversation that included the names of his arresting FBI agents. The judge said that Turner's act "tells me something about the disposition of Mr. Turner."

His lawyer said the defense would use "Turner's background as an FBI informant" and argue that he was "trained by the FBI" as "an agent provocateur" to incite people. In late October 2009 Turner was freed on $500,000 bond, and was ordered not to use a computer or any device that can access the Internet. His trial started on November 30, 2009, and ended on December 4, 2009, with the defense opting not to call any witnesses. After two hours of deliberation, the jury announced it was deadlocked. Three days later the judge declared a mistrial, and a retrial was set for March 1, 2010. This second trial, overseen by Western District of Louisiana judge Donald Walter, was moved from the Northern District of Illinois to the Eastern District of New York: since the prosecution was to call the three judges to the stand, the defense felt that Turner would not get a fair hearing if the trial was conducted in the same city where the judges worked. A mistrial was declared on March 10.

In August 2010, his third trial began and on August 31, after three days of testimony, the jury found Turner guilty. On 21 December 2010, he was sentenced to 33 months in prison. Upon completion of his sentence, he was barred from participating in Internet or satellite radio programming for three years. In his sentencing memorandum, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald made the following comment:

For years, Turner has engaged in a campaign of intimidation against public officials and private citizens alike. Even Turner's arrest in this case failed to deter him. Turner continued his tactics by using intimidation against a key witness in the government's case against him. All the while, Turner has displayed defiance and no regret for his actions. Turner remains utterly incapable of acknowledging the genuine fear experienced by his innumerable victims – that is, except when he is the victim of a perceived threat. Turner has committed a serious crime, engaged in witness intimidation, lied repeatedly under oath, and has shown no regret whatsoever.

After his conviction, Turner was incarcerated in the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, and was later moved to the Federal Correctional Complex, Terre Haute. In May, he sent letters to The Jersey Journal saying he is one of 38 people housed in Communication Management Unit in the prison Terre Haute with terrorists, like John Walker Lindh, and fears for his life once fellow prisoners find out he was a government informant.

During his incarceration, Turner declared bankruptcy, and his wife filed for divorce.

In August 2011, Turner filed an appeal for his conviction. He claimed that the government "failed to substantiate the charge" and asked to be released pending the appeal.

Connecticut v. Turner

In July 2009 the Connecticut case was handed to a division of the state court that handles more serious matters. In early February 2011, Turner appeared in a Hartford court for the Connecticut v. Turner pre-trial hearing on three counts of inciting injuries to persons. The three felony counts Turner faced each carried one to 10 years in prison.

In late February 2011, the federal government reported that e-mails "show it appears Turner plans to pursue judicial and law-enforcement officials after he's released from prison." On February 2, Turner wrote "when I get out, I'm gonna go after some 'problems' and take care of them in a manner that will be horrific."

On March 25, 2011, Turner appeared in Hartford asking the court to be allowed to change his attorney, telling the judge, "I have no confidence in his ability to defend me." The judge reluctantly allowed him to change his private attorney for a public defender citing Turner's unusually bad year. On April 7, with a public defender at his side, Turner pleaded not guilty and the case will go to trial.

In July 2011, Turner's public defender asked for the case to be dismissed, saying Turner's statements were free speech and that Connecticut courts did not have jurisdiction because his threats were made in New Jersey. Prosecutor Thomas Garcia responded that Turner himself wrote that his intent behind the writing was to "foment direct action" against the lawmakers "personally."

In September 2011, Turner asked Judge Carl J. Schuman for permission to represent himself after disagreeing with his public defender, John Stawicki, about defense strategy. Judge Schuman agreed, but Stawicki remained as stand-by counsel. That same week jury selection began.

On September 16, 2011, after three hours of deliberation, Turner was found not guilty of "felony inciting injury to people and misdemeanor threatening." After hugging his family, Turner was "escorted back into custody" to continue serving his sentence in the federal case.

Turner was released from prison on October 5, 2012.

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