RNC 8 Charged as Terrorists Under State Patriot Act

In what appears to be the first use of criminal charges under the 2002 Minnesota version of the Federal Patriot Act, Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Monica Bicking, Eryn Trimmer, Luce Guillen Givins, Erik Oseland, Nathanael Secor, Robert Czernik, Garrett Fitzgerald, and Max Spector, face up to 7 1/2 years in prison under the terrorism enhancement charge which allows for a 50% increase in the maximum penalty.

Affidavits released by law enforcement which were filed in support of the search warrants used in raids over the weekend, and used to support probable cause for the arrest warrants, are based on paid, confidential informants who infiltrated the RNCWC on behalf of law enforcement. They allege that members of the group sought to kidnap delegates to the RNC, assault police officers with firebombs and explosives, and sabotage airports in St. Paul. Evidence released to date does not corroborate these allegations with physical evidence or provide any other evidence for these allegations than the claims of the informants. Based on past abuses of such informants by law enforcement, the National Lawyers Guild is concerned that such police informants have incentives to lie and exaggerate threats of violence and to also act as provocateurs in raising and urging support for acts of violence.

Video: Lawyers' Conference Interrupted by Riot Police | Detainee alleges torture in Ramsey County jail | RNC Welcoming Committee Unmasked Press Conference, 9/4/08

Additional Information: I-Witness Video: 2008 Republican National Convention Round-Up | RNC-WC: PostRNC and beyond, Staying plugged in: a mini-update | Use of Force Against RNC Protesters “Disproportionate,” Charges Amnesty International | Rights of Journalists on Public Streets | Call to Support RNC Arrestees | Donate to Legal Defense at www.nornc.org

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