Phillip M. Hallam-Baker <hallam@ai.mit.edu> wrote:
FC folk may find this interesting. What Jim Bell was charged with and admitted was planning and executing attacks on the IRS.
No, that's not correct. He was charged with (and plead guilty to) obstructing an IRS agent (26 USC 7212(a)) and misuse of a Social Security number (42 USC 408). The "attack" he admitted to executing consisted of applying a stinky chemical to the doormat of an IRS office. (see <http://jya.com/jimbell-dock4.htm> for more.)
Actually I was entirely correct. He had already executed a non-lethal attack and there was considerable evidence to suggest he was planning something more lethal in future.
His 'Assasination Politics' essay was used to demonstrate motive (amongst other things).
That doesn't make any sense - it could conceivably have been introduced to demonstrate intent, or state of mind .. but not motive, at least in the
Read the essay, he quite clearly states his reason for wanting to see IRS agents murdered.
But it's misleading to say that the essay was used to "demonstrate" anything, as it was never introduced into evidence - there was no trial.
He plead guilty, to lesser charges. That does not mean he gets the benefit of the doubt. He was clearly a loon and quite probably would have killed someone sooner or later. Phill