Militia members to be freed until trial

Associated Press

DETROIT

A judge ordered on Monday that nine jailed members of a Michigan militia be released, saying there’s no risk to the public if they go home while awaiting trial on charges of trying to plot war against the government.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts overturned the April 2 decision of a federal magistrate judge and questioned the strength of the government’s case. She said all nine can be released with electronic monitoring devices and other strict conditions.

They’re being held in county jails in southeastern Michigan and won’t actually go free until after they return to court to be processed, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

The government says the members of a southern Michigan militia called Hutaree are radicals who planned to kill police officers and more. They were charged in March with conspiracy to commit sedition and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction.

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