Man convicted in anthrax letters hoax
Wednesday, December 3, 2003 Posted: 7:51 PM EST (0051 GMT)
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A self-described "terrorist" who told
jurors that people who provide abortions should be shot was convicted
Wednesday on charges that he mailed envelopes of fake anthrax to women's
clinics in an attempt to shut them down.
A federal jury deliberated more than three hours before finding Clayton
Waagner guilty on 51 of 53 counts, including the most serious charge:
threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction.
Waagner, who once made the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list, could face decades in
prison when he is sentenced. He is already serving a 49-year term for car
theft and weapons violations.
The quick conviction followed a 2.5 week trial, during which Waagner
represented himself.
Following the verdict, Waagner shook hands with prosecutors and told U.S.
District Judge Anita Brody, "It was fun." He said he intends to appeal.
In a rambling closing argument delivered hours earlier, Waagner argued that
the government had not proved its case, but stopped short of declaring
himself innocent.
He told jurors he was "tickled" that someone had sent letters containing
death threats and white powder to hundreds of clinics in 24 states in 2001.
Waagner added that only his abhorrence for killing prevented him from doing
"what I should have done: shooting them, abortionists and clinic workers, in
the head."
He acknowledged that he has repeatedly confessed to sending the letters, but
suggested he may have only been taking credit falsely for an act he admired.
"Is my story true? That's for you to decide," Waagner said. "I'm not going
to stand here and tell you I didn't do it."
Waagner was acquitted of two counts in which the government claimed he
posted a threatening message on the Internet, warning that he planned to
kill clinic workers.
Prosecutors said there was no question Waagner was behind the letters, which
were sent at the same time that real anthrax attacks were killing people in
2001.
"This defendant threatened bombs, bullets and bioterrorism," said Justice
Department attorney Sheila Berman.
"When he did that, he violated their sense of security. He violated their
peace of mind and he violated federal law."
Waagner, 47, of Kennerdell, Pennsylvania, was awaiting sentencing on gun
charges when he escaped from prison in February 2001. He was on the run for
10 months before he was recaptured leaving a copy shop near Cincinnati,
Ohio.
Authorities said evidence found in the stolen Mercedes he was driving
included copies of the death threats, the addresses of the targeted clinics
and a detailed log that included entries like, "mailed anthrax" and "faxed
FBI bomb threat."
Waagner told jurors he had dedicated his life to disrupting clinics.
"There is no question that I terrorized these people," Waagner said. "Let
there be no question, I was doing stuff out there to shut down clinics."
But as to evidence indicating that he sent the letters, Waagner said jurors
should find it hard to believe that a ninth-grade dropout like himself could
have written them.
To illustrate his point, he turned to his standby attorney as he read one
letter aloud and asked for help pronouncing the word "malaise."
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| User: "TonyZ2001" |
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| Title: Re: Terrorist scum...but at least he got a trial! |
04 Dec 2003 08:03:12 AM |
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"WH"
wrote:
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A self-described "terrorist" who told
jurors that people who provide abortions should be shot was convicted
Wednesday on charges that he mailed envelopes of fake anthrax to women's
clinics in an attempt to shut them down.
So in Chris's warped mind, a man who sends harmless envelopes is more dangerous
than guys who blow up buildings and killed thousands of people.
If the same man had mailed those harmless letters in the name of Jihad, or the
IRA, ole Chris here would be calling him a man of honor.
Tony
"About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up, who will turn
their attention to the prophecies, in the midst of much clamor and opposition."
Sir Isaac Newton
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| User: "WH" |
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| Title: Re: Terrorist scum...but at least he got a trial! |
04 Dec 2003 01:22:06 PM |
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"TonyZ2001" <tonyz2001@aol.com> skrev i meddelandet
news:20031204090312.15174.00000161@mb-m04.aol.com...
"WH"
wrote:
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A self-described "terrorist" who told
jurors that people who provide abortions should be shot was convicted
Wednesday on charges that he mailed envelopes of fake anthrax to women's
clinics in an attempt to shut them down.
So in Chris's warped mind, a man who sends harmless envelopes is more
dangerous
than guys who blow up buildings and killed thousands of people.
Mmmm...would you mind pointing out to me just where I said that pantyboy?
And if you can't then let's agree that it's YOU who has the "warped mind".
If the same man had mailed those harmless letters in the name of Jihad, or
the
IRA, ole Chris here would be calling him a man of honor.
If he'd have mailed them in the name of Jihad he'de be at Guantanamo bay now
with a bag over his head and wearing an orange overall...and a trial he
certainly wouldn't have had.
You did realise that that was my point didn't you????
WH
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| User: "Woodswun" |
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| Title: Re: Terrorist scum...but at least he got a trial! |
04 Dec 2003 06:03:51 PM |
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In article <20031204090312.15174.00000161@mb-m04.aol.com>, (TonyZ2001) wrote:
"WH"
wrote:
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A self-described "terrorist" who told
jurors that people who provide abortions should be shot was convicted
Wednesday on charges that he mailed envelopes of fake anthrax to women's
clinics in an attempt to shut them down.
So in Chris's warped mind, a man who sends harmless envelopes is more dangerous
than guys who blow up buildings and killed thousands of people.
If the same man had mailed those harmless letters in the name of Jihad, or the
IRA, ole Chris here would be calling him a man of honor.
Huh? I believe the point is that this person actually confessed to an act of
terrorism, but he still got a trial, whereas others are being held with no
charges filed, and no legal representation.
Woods
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| User: "Ex." |
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| Title: Re: Terrorist scum...but at least he got a trial! |
05 Dec 2003 03:36:59 PM |
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"Woodswun" <woodswun@tepidmail.com> wrote in message
news:HXPzb.183159$1N3.156395@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
In article <20031204090312.15174.00000161@mb-m04.aol.com>,
tonyz2001@aol.com (TonyZ2001) wrote:
"WH"
wrote:
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A self-described "terrorist" who told
jurors that people who provide abortions should be shot was convicted
Wednesday on charges that he mailed envelopes of fake anthrax to women's
clinics in an attempt to shut them down.
So in Chris's warped mind, a man who sends harmless envelopes is more
dangerous
than guys who blow up buildings and killed thousands of people.
If the same man had mailed those harmless letters in the name of Jihad,
or the
IRA, ole Chris here would be calling him a man of honor.
Huh? I believe the point is that this person actually confessed to an act
of
terrorism, but he still got a trial, whereas others are being held with no
charges filed, and no legal representation.
You saying this is still against the constitution?? Does George know this??
I thought the Straightjacket Act II took care of this ....
/ex
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