Members of a fringe Amish group charged with committing hate crimes against fellow Amish have requested words including “cult,” “splinter” and “rogue” be banned from their upcoming trial in U.S. District Court.
They also requested that any Amish called to testify “affirm the truthfulness” of their testimony rather than swear an oath.
Sixteen people charged in beard- and hair-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio rejected government plea bargain offers of leniency Monday and will go to trial.
The U.S. Justice Department says it plans to introduce evidence at the trial of Amish sect leader Sam Mullet to prove he had total authority over his Ohio community, including disciplining its members with beatings and having sex with other men’s wives to “counsel” them.
A federal judge has rejected a challenge of the federal hate crimes law by Amish sect leader Sam Mullet and 15 followers charged with beard- and hair-cutting assaults in Ohio Amish country last year..
The judge ruled the indictment does not violate the U.S. Constitution.
A Federal judge rejected Amish sect leader Sam Mullet’s attempt to have some of the government’s allegations against him stricken from a hate crimes indictment.
Mullet is awaiting trial, along with several members of his clan, for a series of beard- and hair cutting attacks against other Amish people.
The U.S. Justice Department says it plans to introduce evidence at the trial of Amish sect leader Sam Mullet to prove he had total authority over his Ohio community, including disciplining its members with beatings and having sex with other men’s wives to “counsel” them.
Mullet and several of his family members and other followers are awaiting trial on a Federal hate crimes indictment for a series of beard- and hair cutting attacks against Amish men and women.
Judges says Samuel Mullet had prior knowledge of the attacks and that he defended the assaults in media interviews.
They also said Mullet exerts such complete control over his community that members have refused to talk to the FBI until he gives permission.
The leader of an Amish splinter sect accused of cutting the beards of religious enemies has received more than $2 million for oil rights to his 800-acre farm, yet continues to be represented by a taxpayer-financed public defender, according to a new court filing.
Prosecutors also that Samuel Mullet remain in jail pending his trial, citing fears that he and his followers might retreat to his farm and forcibly resist surrendering.
Amish sect leader Sam Mullet, locked up for five months on federal hate crimes charges, keeps trying to get out of jail and made another attempt this week with a new argument.
The judge has twice ruled that Mr. Mullet will remain behind bars until he goes on trial, siding with the Justice Department that he is a danger to society.
Lawyers for the group claim the government’s case should be dismissed because they say the 2009 Hate Crimes Prevention Act should not apply to a dispute within a religion.
Justice Department lawyers answer the defendants “were properly indicted under the act” and that the law “represents a proper exercise of Congressional authority to enact legislation” to prosecute crimes motivated by bias.
U.S. Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged an additional four women with being involved in beard-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio, and added new allegations that suspects tried to hide or destroy evidence including a bag of hair from the victims.
The new allegations bring to 16 the number of people charged in the attacks on other Amish last year.