The self-proclaimed leader of a white supremacy group admitted in a guilty plea Tuesday that he threatened jurors and witnesses in the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue massacre trial, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
Hardy Carroll Lloyd of Follansbee, West Virginia said he posted threats via social media, websites and emails during the federal hate crimes trial in Pittsburgh of Robert Bowers, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.Lloyd pleaded guilty to obstruction of the due administration of justice.
On Oct. 27, 2018, Bowers drove to the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood with multiple firearms and fired more than 100 rounds, ultimately killing 11 people and injuring seven others. Prosecutors saidhe was driven by long-held antisemitism and hatred of immigrants as he burst into the place of worship and shouted "All Jews must die" as he fired.
As part of his plea agreement, Lloyd, 45, stipulated that he intentionally chose the jurors and witnesses in the Bowers trial as his targets "due to the actual or perceived Jewish religion of the witnesses and the Bowers victims," officials said.
“It is absolutely reprehensible that the defendant threatened witnesses and jurors in the Tree of Life case, a tragedy that claimed innocent lives and emotionally scarred many in the Jewish community,” said Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
If the court accepts Lloyd’s agreement, he will be sentenced to 78 months in prison, which is expected to be the highest end of the sentencing range calculated under sentencing guidelines, officials said.
“Hardy Lloyd attempted to obstruct the federal hate crimes trial of the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “His guilty plea underscores that anyone who attempts to obstruct a federal trial by threatening or intimidating jurors or witnesses will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.”
Jurors, witnesses in synagogue massacre trial faced threats from this white supremacist (msn.com)
( Don;t worry, Trumpers, Little Donnie will pardon this guy. ) |
