This is absolutely outrageous. In a positively Kafka-esque turn of events, a Maryland judge has ordered that Walker be taken into police custody while serial harasser, terrorist, and killer Kimberlin remains free.
Via The Other McCain:
Aaron Walker, whose complaint against convicted terrorist Brett Kimberlin became a conservative cause célèbre this past week, was reportedly taken into custody today after a court hearing in Rockville, Maryland.
One person who attended the hearing in Montgomery County District Court said that Kimberlin asserted that Walker’s continued blogging represented a violation of a “peace order” Kimberlin had obtained against the Virginia attorney, who says Kimberlin tried to “frame” him for assault earlier this year.
During the course of the hearing — which reportedly lasted about an hour — Judge C.J. Vaughey appeared to become increasingly hostile toward Walker, who was taken into custody when the hearing concluded.
On Thursday, May 17, Walker published a 28,000-word account of his experience being targeted by Kimberlin, which soon caught the attention of leading figures in online New Media, including University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Reynolds, who writes the popular Instapundit blog, and bestselling author Michelle Malkin, who warned her readers, “Please remember: Kimberlin is a radical, violent, lying, dangerous felon.”
UPDATE: According to a source, Kimberlin claimed during the hearing that he has received death threats as a result of Walker’s violation of the peace order. In 1981, Kimberlin was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for his crimes, including the 1978 terrorist bombing that brutally maimed Vietnam veteran Carl DeLong.
Recommended
Here is a copy of the so-called “peace order” that was filed by Kimberlin against Walker:
@bob_owens @rsmccain I just verified w/District Ct of Md that Vaughey sat today in Rockville even tho he's retired. Not fake.
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) May 29, 2012
Twitchy will continue to monitor this story as it develops. Please check back for updates.
In the meantime, read about what you can do to support those who have been targeted by Brett Kimberlin and to fight back against intimidation.
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https://twitter.com/ali/status/207508601248546816
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Twitterers are up in arms over this story, and rightfully so. Walker’s arrest is a slap in the face of personal safety and free speech.
Lee Stranahan is calling for a protest:
Can we get some people to Rockville with protest signs this afternoon?
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) May 29, 2012
The Aaron Walker arrest is a violation of his first amendment rights. He isn't accused of making death threats himself against Kimberlin.
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) May 29, 2012
There are two aspects to the Walker arrest. One is legal and hopefully someone qualified is handling that. The other is media; and that's US
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) May 29, 2012
We can't just sit here and tweet about it. We need a media event — a protest in front of the courthouse about the First Amendment
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) May 29, 2012
If someone is allowed to use a peace order / restraining order against a writer to stop them from writing, we're ALL in huge peril
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) May 29, 2012
Let loose the flood of righteous indignation.
Walker Peace Order: SHALL NOT ABUSE, SHALL NOT CONTACT, SHALL NOT ENTER RESIDENCE. Please advise which of these means “cannot talk about”
— Dan Webb (@DWebbVA) May 29, 2012
Look at the recent happenings and tell me again who is for free speech? More voices, NOT LESS.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 29, 2012
So @arronworthing blogs truthful statement about Kimberlin and this judge in Maryland throws Aaron in jail for the reactions of others?
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) May 29, 2012
I'll take "NEVER" RT @RBPundit: Over / under on the ACLU jumping in to help Aaron Worthing? #brettkimberlin
— Randy (@ERE1968) May 29, 2012
Please Contact Maryland State Attorney To Politely, Respectfully Ask Justice For Aaron Walker http://t.co/VFZHqMLT @AaronWorthing
— Wisconservative (@CarterFliptMe) May 29, 2012
https://twitter.com/Capt_Whitebread/status/207517992211316736
Is this judge even remotely familiar w/the 1st Amendment? MT RT: @MelissaTweets: @AaronWorthing finding: http://t.co/y6nYtaxM
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) May 29, 2012
https://twitter.com/Revenant0101/status/207513878203072512
I want to see examples of the threats Kimberlin allegedly received. Did the judge just take his word for it? WTF is going on here!!??
— RBe (@RBPundit) May 29, 2012
https://twitter.com/ali/status/207522697356378112
#WAR
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More from Ali Akbar:
https://twitter.com/ali/status/207514491661975554
https://twitter.com/ali/status/207517492761985024
https://twitter.com/ali/status/207517727332634624
https://twitter.com/ali/status/207521205777997827
https://twitter.com/ali/status/207524249500528640
https://twitter.com/ali/status/207526157627822081
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Purported Kimberlin associate @OccupyRebellion sent out these tweets:
https://twitter.com/OccupyRebellion/status/207498411321204737
https://twitter.com/OccupyRebellion/status/207500771820974080
https://twitter.com/OccupyRebellion/status/207516340729298944
Attention, Judge Cornelius J. Vaughey: those are what real threats look like.
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Update:
Sooper Mexican has posted an eyewitness account from someone who attended the Kimberlin-Walker hearing:
***Judge in #BrettKimberlin Hearing Woefully ignorant of Internet, Twitter http://t.co/6WH8ccYa #tcot
— ¡El Sooopèrr! ن c137 (@SooperMexican) May 29, 2012
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Update:
Dana Loesch cites legal precedent and a government code to suggest that Walker’s conviction will be overturned:
Re: comments, case precedence exists that comments don't reflect the sites upon which they're posted. http://t.co/OJwvWqCn #brettkimberlin
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 29, 2012
Thus, website owners are not responsible for commentary. This includes both left and right. http://t.co/OJwvWqCn
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 29, 2012
If judge is holding @AaronWorthing responsible for website comments, argument can be made he's ignoring case law. http://t.co/OJwvWqCn
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 29, 2012
@NathanWurtzel In this case I'd say fed trumps. Internet can be trick because, no boundaries.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 29, 2012
Also: Communications Decency Act Sec. 230 frees providers from liability of content they didn't write themselves. http://t.co/3mmYBedY
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 29, 2012
Let’s hope that justice wins out here.
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Update:
Aaron Walker has been released:
I cant say more until I talk to my lawyer but… i do really need your help right now. And I appreciate your support.
— (((Aaron “Worthing” Walker))) (@AaronWorthing) May 29, 2012
Actually I can add that i am free at the moment. But please donate. Hate 2 beg, but please…
— (((Aaron “Worthing” Walker))) (@AaronWorthing) May 29, 2012
If you’d like to make a donation to help Aaron and other bloggers targeted by Brett Kimberlin et al., you can do so here or, if you prefer Paypal, here.
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