According to the Associated Press:
“A New Jersey blogger accused of threatening to kill three federal judges has been an FBI informant and even told authorities about a potential plot to assassinate President Barack Obama, his lawyer said Tuesday.
“Extremist blogger Hal Turner pleaded not guilty earlier in the day to charges that he threatened to kill three Chicago-based federal appeals judges.
“At his bond hearing, defense attorney Michael Orozco said the 47-year-old Turner of North Bergen, N.J., was not a danger to the community as federal prosecutors claim. Turner deserved to be released on bond, Orozco said, adding that he had served as an FBI confidential informant.
” ‘He provided information about the potential assassination of President Obama,’ ” Orozco told U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Ashman. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hogan told Ashman he “never heard anything about that” and said Turner’s contacts with the FBI ended ‘quite some time ago.’ “