White Supremacist Admits Threatening Jurors and Witnesses in Synagogue Massacre Trial

Hardy Carroll Lloyd, who claimed leadership of a white supremacy group, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to threatening jurors and witnesses involved in the trial of the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue massacre. This act marks the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

In a federal hate crimes trial held in Pittsburgh, Robert Bowers, the perpetrator, drove to the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018. Armed with multiple firearms, he unleashed over 100 rounds, resulting in the tragic deaths of 11 individuals and injuries to seven others. During the attack, Bowers shouted “All Jews must die,” indicating his deep-seated antisemitism and hostility towards immigrants.

As part of his guilty plea for obstruction of the due administration of justice, Lloyd, 45, acknowledged posting threats via social media, websites, and emails during the trial. He intentionally targeted jurors and witnesses associated with the Bowers trial, with officials noting that Lloyd selected them based on their actual or perceived Jewish faith.

Strong Condemnation and Sentencing:

Christopher Wray, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), expressed strong condemnation, stating, “It is absolutely reprehensible that the defendant threatened witnesses and jurors in the Tree of Life case, a tragedy that claimed innocent lives and emotionally scarred many in the Jewish community.”

If the court accepts Lloyd’s plea agreement, he will receive a 78-month prison sentence, which is expected to be at the highest end of the sentencing range calculated according to sentencing guidelines.

Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the Department of Justice’s commitment to combating such obstruction, stating, “His guilty plea underscores that anyone who attempts to obstruct a federal trial by threatening or intimidating jurors or witnesses will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.”

White Supremacist Involvement and Arrest:

Lloyd was arrested on August 10 on criminal charges related to obstruction of justice and witness tampering, shortly after Bowers’ trial concluded. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) revealed that it had been monitoring Lloyd and his involvement in white supremacist activities since at least 2003. Over the years, Lloyd had affiliations with various white supremacist groups, some of which he established himself. Notably, he identified as the leader of the Church of Ben Klassen, a pseudo-religious white supremacist organization, according to the ADL.

Synagogue Shooter’s Sentencing:

Robert Bowers, aged 50, received the death penalty on August 3 following a two-month trial. A federal jury recommended his execution after finding him guilty on 63 criminal counts in June. These charges included hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. Bowers’ sentencing marked the first federal death penalty imposed during President Joe Biden’s administration.

Bowers had been an early user of the extremist-friendly social media platform Gab and posted on his account just prior to the synagogue attack. After the massacre, he openly expressed satisfaction with his actions and told psychologists that he wished he had killed more people.

Rising Antisemitism and Social Media Impact:

An annual survey by the ADL, which has been monitoring antisemitism in the U.S. since the 1960s, revealed a doubling in the number of Americans holding extensive antisemitic prejudice and belief in antisemitic tropes since 2019. The survey found that one-fifth of respondents subscribed to six or more ideas described by the ADL as antisemitic tropes, marking the highest level in three decades.

Additional studies by the ADL and the Tech Transparency Project highlighted the role of major social media platforms in hosting and promoting antisemitic and hateful content. Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) were found to steer users towards antisemitic tropes and conspiracies, challenging the notion that they merely serve as neutral conduits for third-party content.