DOJ pushes libertarian site to reveal commenters who wanted judge ‘taken out back and shot’

[davidn3600]

The Justice Department issued subpoenas against the libertarian site Reason.com seeking to learn the identity of anonymous site users who discussed killing federal judges, Buzzfeed reported.

The comments in question were posted in the thread for a May 31 Reason story concerning Ross Ulbrich, who created the Silk Road online drug marketplace, and a letter he sent to Judge Katherine Forrest asking for leniency following his conviction.

Instead, Forrest sentenced Ulbrich to life in prison. USA Today reported that Ulbrich plans to file an appeal.

The subpoena, originally published by blogger Ken “Popehat” White, argued that the department is investigating whether they constitute violations of federal laws against interstate threats.

The document specifically highlights comments including, “It’s judges like these that should be taken out back and shot,” and “Why waste ammunition? Wood chippers get the message across clearly. Especially if you feed them in feet first.” Another user calls Forrest a “c*nt.” More of the comments can be seen below:

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/doj-pushes-libertarian-site-reason-to-reveal-commenters-who-wanted-judge-taken-out-back-and-shot/

Legal experts are criticizing the DOJ's actions saying the comments do not represent "true threats."

[delrem]

1. That's the way to go, though.

Instance by instance, not by an universal drag-net with an universal repository of data, where such requests are always after the fact.

[stonecutter357]

2. good

[cali]

4. I've seen dozens of comments here, every bit as bad about republicans

[MohRokTah]

7. Links?

[cali]

18. nope, I'm on my tablet which makes searching difficult

but anyone who has been here a while has seen them. Lots of talk about guillotines, sometimes with specific people involved. In the past those threads were more often hidden.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

13. So let the Feds find out who said those too.

I'm fine with them investigating anyone who threatens murder against specific targets.

[NutmegYankee]

3. Seems like a waste of DOJ time.

The posts are not real threats and have zero chance of a successful court case.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. They need to start being viewed as real threats...

the Internet can be vile. Real consequences of such behavior may be one way of civilizing some people.

[Fumesucker]

6. Pitchforks, tumbrels and guillotines

I read comments strongly implying violence here on DU regularly..

[MohRokTah]

8. Links?

[Fumesucker]

9. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026801789

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025762523

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=237813

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014729726

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5722418

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1127&pid=57707

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=107232

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x802469

[MohRokTah]

11. .

Really?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

14. When was the last time you actually saw anyone killed via pitchfork, tumbrel, or guillotine?

I think those are pretty obviously rhetorical devices. (I'd even grant the woodchipper guy as being fairly obviously rhetorical.) But people do get shot all the time, so that could be a real violent nutcase. And you don't know til you investigate.

[Fumesucker]

15. All rhetorical devices implying killing are equal

But some are more equal than others.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

16. So if I threatened to drown you in kittens, that's 'equal' to threatening to shoot you?

I think there's a wee flaw in that logic.

[Fumesucker]

17. Beheading is becoming rather popular

There was a recent incident of someone planning just that, yes?

I think it's rather ironic someone with the handle Bloodaxe defending violent rhetoric..

I've spoken of tumbrels myself right here on DU.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

19. Rhetoric is often merely shorthand.

People who talk pitchforks and torches don't literally think they're going to chase Frankenstein's monster.

It's simply a way to use a well-known cultural iconography, just like the French revolution. Indeed, Bernie is using the word 'revolution' in his campaign, but no one thinks he wants his followers to actually put on berets and pick up weaponry.

And I don't remember any of the recent beheadings as having occurred via guillotine or tumbrel. ISIS doesn't waste time carrying around more than swords.

[OneGrassRoot]

20. I don't disagree with you.

I mean, pitchforks and guillotines, not so much, but any other overtly threatening language, even towards a vile person, shouldn't be tolerated. We all too easily become what we hate in the heat of the moment and when we feel powerless to effect change.

[LanternWaste]

22. No more and no less than I'm reading responding to a post rationalizing that threats made...

No more and no less than I'm reading responding to a post rationalizing that threats made against a sitting judge are minimized and used to make an irrelevant point...

That being another reason we should avoid confusing "imply" and "infer".

[NutmegYankee]

21. They are not real threats.

And as not real threats they are protected free speech. Even a gruesome comment like the wood chipper is obvious hyperbole, just like George Carlin's jokes about execution methods. A threat cannot be in third person.

If you want purity of language, may I suggest another country.

[Fumesucker]

23. This might surprise you but I agree

Not real threats and I don't think the ones in the OP are either.

I just have a rather odd point of view and an even weirder sensayuma.

[polynomial]

10. Its easy to think that way after

When many do research and find out relatives of Rush Limbaugh have been appointed by Republican Bush, as Federal Judges, could conjure those same thoughts to being justified giving a cowboy judge his last cigarette.

Imagine the Limbaugh extrapolated mind in very important social Issues that are totally biased against liberal thinking, or any free mind of the new century of liberty.

Especially, Limbaugh, openly enjoys the conversations about feminazi types. Rush Limbaugh also expresses conversation within anti-Semitic wedging, with discrimination against Jews as popular topics. Limbaugh has revealed to America the secret inside of the electromagnet spectrum, that secret society that is predator politics.

Of course, many know the basic foundation of the Constitution was developed by open minded thinkers that know the right to life is an independent mind as long as it ascends with the life force to evolve.

The Republican of today’s politics is beyond what is considered Conservative attached to a neo new tyranny, a new label called the Tea Party or better put suggestive of feudalism, feudal law, designed to maintain control over land. Exampled by the housing debacle, or failure of major banking mortgage schemes during the Bush administration.

So those banks got billions of free tax dollars and have ownership of vast amounts of property to redevelop and resell, or reverse mortgage to gerrymander in this new age of neo feudal liberty.

[DFW]

12. That's what O'Reilly's defense was about Dr. Tiller, too

He didn't get charged, but Dr. Tiller is just as dead.

Better the DOJ checks on threats to see if they are credible--BEFORE something happens. If there's no danger, you can always say "never mind" later.