The FBI warned about far-right attacks. Agents arrested a leftist ex-soldier.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

I'm 100% sure that there are some on this board who are fine with this guy being arrested, and even fine with him being held without bail. But the charge is that his posts showed he is "on a path to radicalization." With increased attention and, possibly, new legislation around domestic terrorism, it's important to understand how current law is now used, and where it might go.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/02/14/fbi-arrest-left-wing-violence/

TALLAHASSEE — Shortly after sunrise on Jan. 15, FBI agents descended with guns drawn on a squat, red-brick apartment complex here, broke open the door of one of the units and threw in a stun grenade, prompting the frightened property manager to call 911.

(snip)

Public defender Randolph Murrell argued in court filings and during a Jan. 21 hearing that Baker’s comments were “the product of the heated political dialogue of the day.” They were no different, he said, from online posts by Republican officials telling their followers to “prepare for war” or to “take up arms” in the run-up to Inauguration Day. Baker’s friends said he had a bombastic social media presence that he stepped up to match inflammatory right-wing rhetoric.

But the FBI agents who had been monitoring Baker’s social media posts since October described him as being on a “path toward radicalization.” They catalogued his Facebook musing about being “willing to do ANYTHING to ANYONE so I don’t end up homeless and hungry again.” They noted updates about “voting from the rooftops” and hoping “the right tries a coup on Nov. 3 cuz I’m so f------ down to slay enemies again.” A post on his page in December announced, “Trump still plans on a violent militant coup. If you don’t have guns you won’t survive.”

On Jan. 25, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Frank agreed that Baker posed a potential threat and ordered him held without bond, writing that the former soldier had “repeatedly endorsed violent means to advance the political beliefs that he espouses.”

[dawg day]

1. Kyle Rittenhouse is not only out on bail...

but being hidden from the court, while he parties in biker bars with white supremacists.
Oh, yeah, he shot three people-- killed 2, maimed 1.

[exboyfil]

2. I am cool with arresting anyone on the other line

of the statements he made regardless of what political beliefs are held. The thing about it is I suspect the ratio will be like 50:1 or more.

It seems that many prominent Republicans are sitting on the other line as well.

By the way the guy was right about the coup. If Trump gets another opportunity, I think he will use more paid professionals. Given the blessing he got from his fellow GQPers, the problem wasn't the action, the problem was not acting more forcefully.

[2naSalit]

3. +1

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. As I say, there are many who are fine with this standard.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

5. Question

Just to be clear, you're ok with him being arrested? The issue you have is him not getting bond?

[exboyfil]

6. It does seem weird that he didn't get bond

Given the bunch that actually participated in an insurrection that did get bond. Some of whom even get to vacation in Mexico.

Was he unwilling to tell the Court that he was going to be a good boy going forward?

[BeerBarrelPolka]

7. I understand

I thought the same thing as well. There seems to be a double standard.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. I'm not okay with him being arrested and also with not getting bond.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

9. I see

Yes, you and I are in disagreement. I feel he should be arrested for making those threats.

[TheRealNorth]

10. Exactly

We are lucky that Trump is incompetent, and that at this point most of the competent people in his admin had been replaced with sycophants. But if we fail to get the people in jail, this will only be a dress rehearsal for next time when somebody that is more competent like Tom Cotton tries this.