Resistance Conspiracy

The Resistance Conspiracy case (1988-1990) was a Federal Judicial trial in the United States, in which six people were charged with the 1983 U.S. Senate bombing and related bombings of Fort McNair and the Washington Navy Yard: Marilyn Jean Buck, wanted for her role in the 1981 Brinks armored car robbery, Linda Sue Evans, Susan Rosenberg, Timothy Blunk, Alan Berkman, and Elizabeth Ann Duke.

Background

The May 19 Communist Organization, also known as the May 19th Coalition and the May 19 Communist Movement, was a self-described revolutionary organization formed by splintered-off members of the Weather Underground. Originally known as the New York Chapter of the Prairie Fire Organizing Committee (PFOC), the group was active from 1978 to 1985. Between 1983 and 1985, the group bombed the United States Capitol Building as well as three military installations in the Washington D.C. area and four sites in New York City.

Arrests

On May 11 1985 group members Marilyn Jean Buck, wanted for her role in the 1981 Brinks armored car robbery, and Linda Sue Evans were arrested in Dobbs Ferry, New York by FBI agents who had trailed them in the hope the pair would lead them to other fugitives. Laura Whitehorn was arrested the same day in a Baltimore apartment rented by Buck and Evans. cite news
url= http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F50C14F9395D0C708DDDAC0894DD484D81
title= F.B.I. ASSERTS FUGITIVES HAD A NETWORK OF 'SAFE HOUSES'
last=
first=
date= 1985-03-13
publisher= The New York Times
quote= The fugitive life of Marilyn Jean Buck and Linda Sue Evans was supported by a network of underground accomplices and "safe houses" in New York City, New Haven, Baltimore and other locales, Federal officials said yesterday.
accessdate= 2007-12-04 ] At the time of the arrests, group members Susan Rosenberg and Timothy Blunk were already under arrest, Rosenberg for explosives and weapons charges connected with the Brinks robbery, Blunk for similar charges. cite news
url= http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F60915FE3D5C0C7B8DDDAA0894DD484D81
title= RADICALS FOUND GUILTY BY JURORS IN FEDERAL TRIAL
date= 1985-03-18
publisher= The New York Times
quote= A Federal jury today found two self-styled revolutionaries, Susan Lisa Rosenberg and Timothy Blunk, guilty of eight counts each of possessing explosives, weapons and fake identification cards.
accessdate= 2007-12-04 ] Fugitive group members Alan Berkman and Elizabeth Ann Duke were captured by the FBI 12 days later near Philadelphia, cite news
url= http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F60E14F83D5D0C768EDDAC0894DD484D81
title= NEW YORK DOCTOR HELD AS FUGITIVE IN BRINK'S CASE
last= Raab
first= Selwyn
date= 1985-05-25
publisher= The New York Times
quote= A New York City physician, on the run for two years since his indictment for treating suspects in the Brink's robbery and killings in Rockland County, has been arrested, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced yesterday.
accessdate= 2007-12-04 ] however Duke jumped bail and disappeared before trial. cite news
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE6DD133AF935A25755C0A967958260
title= Headliners: All the Way
date= 1991-06-16
publisher= The New York Times
quote= How far will Linda Backiel go to protect a client? How far is the jail? Ms. Backiel was a lawyer for Elizabeth Ann Duke, a self-described revolutionary who had been indicted on weapons and explosives charges, when Ms. Duke decided to forgo the rigors of a trial and jumped bail.
accessdate= 2007-12-04 ] The case became known as the Resistance Conspiracy Case.

Indictment, plea and sentencing

On May 12, 1988, the seven members of the group under arrest were indicted. The indictment described the goal of the conspiracy as being "to influence, change and protest policies and practices of the United States Government concerning various international and domestic matters through the use of violent and illegal means" and charged the seven with bombing the United States Capitol Building, three military installations in the Washington D.C. area, and four sites in New York City. The military sites bombed were the National War College at Fort McNair, the Washington Navy Yard Computer Center, and the Washington Navy Yard Officers Club. In New York City, the sites bombed were the Staten Island Federal Building, the Israeli Aircraft Industries Building, the South African consulate, and the offices of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association. cite news
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DD133DF931A25756C0A96E948260
title= U.S. Charges 7 In the Bombing At U.S. Capitol
last= Shenon
first= Philip
date= 1988-05-12
publisher= The New York Times
quote= Seven members of a group describing itself as a "Communist politico-military organization" were charged today with the 1983 bombing of the Capitol and attacks on several other buildings, including at least four in New York City, according to the Justice Department.
accessdate= 2007-12-01 ]

On September 6, 1990 "The New York Times" reported that Whitehorn, Evans and Buck had agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and destruction of Government property. Prosecutors agreed to drop bombing charges against Rosenberg, Blunk and Berkman, who were already serving long prison terms (Rosenberg and Blunk 58 years, Berkman 10) for possession of explosives and weapons. Whitehorn also agreed to plead guilty to fraud in the possession of false identification documents found by the FBI in the Baltimore apartment. cite news
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEED91038F935A3575AC0A966958260
title= 3 Radicals Agree to Plead Guilty in Bombing Case
date= 1990-09-06
publisher= The New York Times
quote= Three radicals will plead guilty to setting off bombs at the nation's Capitol and seven other sites in the early 1980's. The Government has agreed to drop charges against three other people.
accessdate= 2007-12-04 ]

At the December 6 1990 sentencing of Whitehorn and Evans by Federal District Judge Harold H. Greene, in a courtroom packed with supporters, Whitehorn was sentenced to 20 years in prison and Evans to an additional five years after completing a 35-year sentence being served for illegally buying guns. cite news
url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDB1030F93BA35751C1A966958260
title= Radical Gets 20-Year Term in 1983 Bombing of U.S. Capitol
date= 1990-12-08
publisher= The New York Times
quote= A left-wing radical received a 20-year sentence Thursday for bombing the Capitol and conspiring to set off seven other explosions that a prosecutor called acts of terrorism.
accessdate= 2007-12-01 ] Buck was already serving 17 years on other convictions, and was later sentenced to a 50-year term for the Brinks holdup and other armed robberies.

On August 6, 1999 Whitehorn was released on parole after serving just over 14 years.

References

* [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/bomb_explodes_in_capitol.htm Adapted from Senate Website, a product of the US government]