Judge Considers Request To Drop Gun Charges In Mass Killing Plot

SILVER SPRING, MD — A federal judge on Monday was asked to dismiss some weapons charges filed against a U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant accused of stockpiling weapons and drugs to launch a domestic terror attack, according to the Associated Press. Christopher Paul Hasson, 50, — a self-proclaimed white nationalist from Silver Spring — is accused of stockpiling weapons as he made plans to kill members of Congress and media figures, among others.

Federal prosecutors have repeatedly accused Hasson of being a "domestic terrorist" with plans to murder a list of Democratic lawmakers and journalists. Although Hasson has only been indicted on gun and drug charges, prosecutors have said those charges are just the "proverbial tip of the iceberg."

During Monday's court proceedings, defense attorney Liz Oyer said prosecutors haven’t filed terrorism charges against Hassonbecause they have no evidence to support the allegations, WTOP reported. Prosecutors want to punish Hasson for “private thoughts” that he never shared, she argued.

Hasson faces two charges of unlawful possession of firearm silencers, which attorneys asked a judge to dismiss Monday, arguing the charges violate Hasson's Second Amendment right to bear arms. But prosecutors said other courts have held that the Second Amendment doesn’t cover silencers.

Hasson also is charged with possession of firearms by unlawful user or addict of a controlled substance, and illegal possession of tramadol, a painkiller.

U.S. District Judge George Hazel in May overturned an earlier ruling by a magistrate judge who said Hasson could be released from custody while awaiting trial on firearms and drug charges, according to the Associated Press. Hasson remains in federal detention.

Law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Hasson's residence in Silver Spring on Feb. 15. A search of the basement apartment he shares with his wife turned up 17 firearms and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, according to officials. Hasson was arrested that same day.

According to court documents filed by prosecutors, Hasson planned attacks on the U.S. and targeted presidential candidates Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York; Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts; Cory Booker, D-New Jersey; and Kamala Harris, D-California. Other prominent public figures on the list included MSNBC's Chris Hayes and Joe Scarborough and CNN's Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo.

"The defendant is a domestic terrorist, bent on committing acts dangerous to human life that are intended to affect governmental conduct," officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Maryland said.

Court records did not reveal when Hasson planned to strike, but said he had stockpiled supplies since 2017. Authorities claim that Hasson, a former Marine, wanted to establish a "white homeland."

In court in February, federal prosecutor Jennifer Sykes said Hasson used his government computer at work to search for people such as the Virginia Tech gunman, the Unabomber, and Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, who was convicted in 2011 of killing 77 people in two terror attacks.

"This is not an isolated activity," Sykes said. "This is something that is being done for hours on end while he is at work."

Hasson was working as an acquisitions officer at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. before he was arrested. When agents searched his workplace, they also found at least 100 pills believed to be the narcotic called Tramadol.

According to court documents, Hasson amassed the narcotics "to increase his ability to conduct attacks," which was in line with Breivik's manifesto.

Julie Stelzig, one of Hasson's public defenders, called the court documents filed against her client "inflammatory," saying the "15-page document is throwing a whole bunch of stuff against the wall and hoping it will stick."

The government says Hasson has espoused extremist views for years, and that his internet searches and firearms and narcotic purchases make him a danger to the community.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Windom said the government believes Hasson's arrested prevented from launching an attack on innocent people, according to the AP.

"Nothing is more serious than murder. And, plain and simple, that's what the defendant was going to do," Windom said.

SEE ALSO:

• Judge Orders Coast Guard Lt. Back To Detention
• Coast Guard Lt. Indicted On Gun and Drug Charges: DOJ
• Coast Guard Officer Accused Of Terror Plot To Be Freed For Trial
• Coast Guard Lt. Accused Of Terror Plot Can Be Released To Family