NORTH BERGEN — After 119 days in federal custody, Harold “Hal” Turner, 47, of North Bergen was released on bail from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building and U.S. Court House in Newark on Oct. 21 shortly after 1 p.m.
According to his Newark attorney, Michael A. Orozco, Turner is on house arrest and being electrically monitored. He is under strict orders against speaking to the media and is not allowed to access a computer or other devices that can connect to the internet.
“Right now it’s purely trial preparation,” said Orozco, who said that he was focused on moving forward to the trial in Brooklyn on Nov. 30.
Turner, a white supremacist blogger and radio host, was arrested on June 24 after stating on his blog that three federal appeals judges that upheld a local Chicago handgun ban “deserve to be killed.” He also allegedly listed their names, addresses, phone numbers and photos in following online posts.
During the Chicago hearing, Orozco said that Turner had been a government informant over the years. “He helped target left wing groups,” said Orozco. “He also assisted in proving right wing activity, but I can’t commit to much further on that. That’s part of an agreement about not discussing certain aspects of the case. All I can confirm for you for a long period of time he worked very closely with the F.B.I., providing information intelligence, extremely valuable intelligence.”
This past September, U.S. District Judge Donald Walter agreed to transfer the case from Chicago to Brooklyn.
Orozco confirmed that Turner posted a $500,000 bond at Hudson County Jail and has since returned to his North Bergen home.