Counts Won't Be Dismissed For Men Accused Of Plan To Join ISIS
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge says he won't dismiss charges against seven Minnesota men accused of plotting to join the Islamic State group.
The men have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Prosecutors allege they began meeting in spring 2014 to talk about traveling to Syria.
Defense attorneys sought to dismiss several counts, arguing the Islamic State group is more like a nation than a terror group because it proclaims itself a sovereign state, controls territory and has an army.
But U.S. District Judge Michael Davis says that argument is without merit. Davis also disagreed with a defense argument that the men's rights to religious freedom were violated.
Other requests submitted by defense attorneys will be taken up at a Wednesday hearing.
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