Charges dropped in Obama e-mail threat case

[alp227]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

(11-22) 14:10 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- Federal prosecutors today dropped charges that a Northern California man threatened to kill President Obama after a jury deadlocked on whether his racist, violent e-mail was an actual threat or an empty rant.

U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel of San Francisco ordered John Gimbel released from custody after Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Barry said the government would not retry him. Patel said jurors reported Nov. 1 that they were split 6-6 on his guilt.

Gimbel, 60, of Crescent City (Del Norte County), was arrested after sending an e-mail in September 2009 to Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and several news organizations.

The subject line contained the words "Kill the 'president' " and the message, filled with profanity and racial epithets, said Obama should be killed and dismembered after his wife and children were slain in front of him.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/22/BAF61GFSNM.DTL

[bluestateguy]

1. This is not acceptable

The president has the powers under the USA Patriot Act and his inherent wartime authority to declare someone, anyone, an enemy combatant, subject to indefinite detention, regardless of the verdicts of juries.

I suggest he use it.

[alp227]

2. what about the suspected "enemy combatants" in Guantanamo? n/t

[Iowa]

7. The Patriot Act is an assault on liberty that should be repealed.

[Amonester]

3. What the f**k is wrong with the 6 jurors who split the verdict?!?

R(acist)Wingers like the gimbel mofo?? :wtf:

[MiniMe]

6. My guess would be that they watch Faux Snooze

[jancantor]

8. All 'threats' must be filtered through the

"true threats" criteria. That's the terminology in criminal case distinguishing between smack talk and criminally actionable threats. It is a somewhat subjective area of criminal law. I wouldn't assume political bias in such cases.

[truthisfreedom]

4. I guess suggesting that the President should be killed isn't the same as threatening to kill him,

at least according to 50% of that jury.

I hope they keep an eye on this guy.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. bullshit...

you don't do this for ANY president.

[Amonester]

9. You're so right! I can't imagine what would have happened if...

the same email had been sent to bush**

Umm... wait... I can EASILY imagine what would have happened to him (i.g. water-boarding torture "techniques")

But since he sent it to President Obama, that Racist beckbot gets away scot-free! :grr:

Police everywhere
Justice nowhere