Morning Briefing: Court Allows Inclusion of Racist Motive in Trial of White Supremacist Tops Friendly Market Mass Shooter
The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling that will allow 'motivations of racial hatred as aggravating factors into the upcoming federal death penalty trial' of Payton Gendron.
Morning Briefing: The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling that will “motivations of racial hatred as aggravating factors into the upcoming federal death penalty case against Payton Gendron,” the White Supremacist who pleaded guilty to state charges for shooting and killing 10 people at the Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York.
Federal prosecutors will also be allowed to present aggravating factors including “Gendron’s alleged attempt to inspire additional acts of violence,” and the impact on surviving victims. Gendron is currently serving life in prison without the possibility of parole, and federal prosecutors “announced the decision to pursue the death penalty.”
Federal immigration agents reportedly used racial slurs to identify alleged undocumented immigrants “while sweeping through Los Angeles last year,” and text messages cited in court filings revealed agents used racist language such as “wet” and “tonks.”
Jacob Engels, right-wing influencer and associated for the far right violent extremists group the Proud Boys, is reportedly facing “charges for possession of methamphetamine, resisting an officer, disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession/illegally obtained prescription,” which resulted from an incident that allegedly took place at a motel in River Falls, Wisconsin.
In Tolland, Connecticut, White Supremacist propaganda produced by Patriot Front, the White Nationalist group, was removed from a utility pole, and the Connecticut State Police is reportedly investigating the signs “which appeared across town.”
Patriot Front propaganda was reported in Park City, Utah, and Patriot Front propaganda was also reported “posted on lightposts and stop signs up and down Main Street” in Haines, Alaska.
Must Reads
Robert Kuttner writes that “free and fair elections this November should produce a Democratic wave, mass repudiation of Trump, and the possibility of a new impeachment. With each passing day, it becomes increasingly clear that Trump has only one strategy for averting that fate: stealing the 2026 midterm election. He can’t seem to deliver a speech without returning to his obsession that he actually won the 2020 election, most recently in a prime-time address filled with false evidence of supposed foreign interference. On January 6, 2021, Trump attempted to stage a coup and he will surely try again… This time, Trump is relying on four possible strategies to steal the election. The survival of our democracy depends on whether each of them can be foiled, and how.” [The American Prospect]
David Gilbert writes that “True the Vote, the election denial group responsible for the debunked film 2000 Mules that falsely alleged election fraud in the 2020 election, is preparing to release a new movie. As President Donald Trump continues to threaten the midterms, the new film is set to relitigate the 2020 election, making allegations about systemic election fraud in Black communities—allegations that have already been dismissed by multiple courts. True the Vote appears to be working with Lorenzo Sewell, a pastor from Detroit who spoke at Trump’s inauguration last year… The film is set to repeat many of the claims first made in a 2024 lawsuit filed by Detroit political activist Ramon Jackson, who claimed that Democratic election officials, including Michigan secretary of state Jocelyn Benson and Detroit city clerk Janice Winfrey, orchestrated a scheme to register former Detroit residents and cast votes under false registrations in elections dating back to 2017.” [Wired]
Moira Donegan writes that “when MAGA leaves power, all of the officers, bureaucrats and leaders of ICE – from the uniformed thugs in masks on the streets, to the contractors guarding concentration camps, to the suited vultures directing the operation in Washington and drafting legal memos to justify it – all of them must be held accountable. Their immunity from criminal prosecution and civil suits must be eradicated, and their liability must be made retroactive. They must be investigated, tried, fined, punished and ostracized. Needless to say, ICE must be abolished – attempts to merely reform it must be resisted as betrayals of democratic values. But it is not enough to abolish ICE. Those who are responsible for ICE must be driven from public life.” [The Guardian]
What to expect from Radical Reports: Morning Briefing provides a daily round-up of reporting on the Radical Right; Extremist Links offers a weekly round-up of extremists activities including the white supremacist and militia movements; Narratives of the Right delivers weekly analysis of the current narratives in far right online spaces and promoted by right-wing media; and Research Desk provides monthly highlights research and analysis from academia on the Radical Right.
