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May 5, 2011 in News, Idaho
Edgar Steele guilty on all counts
Sandpoint attorney Edgar Steele talks with the media about the McGuckin children of Sagle and how he now represents the family at a news conference Thursday evening in Sandpoint, May 31, 2001.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
BOISE — A North Idaho lawyer accused of plotting to to kill his wife and mother-in-law failed to convince a federal jury Thursday that he was the victim of a government conspiracy to silence him.
The jury of 11 women and 1 man convicted Edgar Steele on all four counts, which alleged he’d hired a hitman-turned-FBI-informant to kill his wife, Cyndi Steele, and mother-in-law. Federal agents foiled the plan, though a pipe bomb later was found attached to Cyndi Steele’s sport utility vehicle.
Cyndi Steele, however, stood by her husband throughout the case.
“He’s innocent,” an emotional Cyndi Steele said after the verdict was read. “He did not do this, and we have the proof, which was denied in the courtroom.”
Edgar Steele, 65, a self-described “attorney for the damned” who gained notoriety in 2000 for his defense of the Aryan Nations against a civil lawsuit that bankrupted the racist group, is to be sentenced Aug. 22 in Coeur d’Alene. He faces at least 30 years in prison.
The Steeles contend secret FBI recordings of Edgar Steele plotting the would-be murder with the family’s handyman, Larry Fairfax, were fabricated. But an audio expert that Steele had hired to question the authenticity of the recordings was unavailable to testify because he reportedly was vacationing in Bora Bora.
Defense lawyer Robert McAllister said he expects Steele will appeal.
Jurors began deliberating Wednesday afternoon following a week and a half of testimony.
Cyndi Steele said Thursday that her husband believes everyone is entitled to legal representation and had agreed to represent the Aryan Nations’ founder, Richard Butler, against the lawsuit, not the racist group itself. She said her husband disagreed with some of Butler’s positions but supported his right to legal representation, and has paid a heavy price over the years for that commitment.
Edgar Steele also had hosted a webcast that was popular among white supremacists, and is regularly cited on racist Internet message boards.
From the beginning, Steele and his supporters accused the government of targeting him because of his willingness to provide legal representation for unpopular individuals.
But U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson said Thursday that before being advised by Larry Fairfax last year that he’d been hired to kill Cyndi Steele, none of the agents or prosecutors assigned to the case had even heard of Steele.
“Edgar Steele chose to target himself when he offered money to Larry Fairfax for the murder of his wife,” Olson said outside the courtroom.
The case was moved to Boise after the trial was delayed March 7 at the last minute in Coeur d’Alene.
Steele’s supporters are critical of prosecutors for going easy on Fairfax, who failed to tell agents he’d already planted a pipe bomb on Cyndi Steele’s vehicle when he advised them of the murder-for-hire plot.
Fairfax was arrested June 15 after Coeur d’Alene auto shop workers found the pipe bomb under Cyndi Steele’s car. Fairfax pleaded guilty last October to two federal weapons charges and is to be sentenced after Steele’s trial.
Prosecutors say Steele wanted his wife killed so he could pursue a relationship with a 25-year-old Ukrainian woman.
Steele sent more than 14,000 messages to the woman and others whom he met through an online dating website. His wife and other supporters said the communication was part of his research into Russian mail order brides.
In the secret FBI recordings, Steele discussed planned alibis for the day his wife is to be killed. Before his arrest, investigators told Steele his wife was dead to observe his reaction and see if he brought up the proposed alibis.
Police described Steele’s reaction as flat and forced until they told him he was under arrest for murder for hire and a fecal odor filled the air.
“I would submit that his body reacted and told more truth than his mouth did,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Haws said in his closing argument Wednesday.
Watch for continuing updates at spokesman.com and for complete coverage in Friday’s edition of The Spokesman-Review.
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buffalokill on May 05 at 12:02 p.m.
“Prosecutors say Steele wanted his wife killed so he could pursue a relationship with a 25-year-old Ukrainian woman.”
And we all know that you have to kill your wife, in order to make such a pursuit. Laughable. Just another victim of the NWO.
DoesntMakeSense on May 05 at 12:04 p.m.
My prayers are with the Steele family. The case was rigged. The judge wouldn’t allow the testimony of audio experts who found that the incriminating tapes were forgeries. The FBI lied and lied to Mrs. Steele and set up her husband. They tried to kill her with a bomb in order to get back at her husband who took up politically incorrect causes.
otimus on May 05 at 12:17 p.m.
LOL he soiled himself… that is funny!!!
pissed panda on May 05 at 12:38 p.m.
Such a long way to go after all this time. Do anyone seriously believe this was rigged? I hope his wife gets the counseling she so desperately needs.
Tyllim on May 05 at 12:38 p.m.
This ruling is wrong…I dislike making such a statement that makes me sound like another radical but…the Jury is completely made up of fools. The evidence presented was shoddy at best and the Defense constantly being denied their evidence shows the state of the current Judicial System and Federal Government. Steele, along with other such as Hinkson, are becoming martyrs to a cause that no one even knows about. A cause that is fought through small steps in judicial decisions and subliminal messaging…a cause that is being fought in the hearts and minds of the people and won’t be seen until something big enough happens that no one can ignore.
Otimus…did you realize that to negate that idiotic claim the defense said to question the officer that processed Steele? There was no evidence of defecation in his clothing…so unless the FBI had him change before they took him in (which they didn’t)….
Penswoman on May 05 at 12:59 p.m.
The Steeles are long time members of the hardcore white supremacist movement. Edgar Steele sought national attention as a leader of racists and anti-Semites. He has appeared with David Duke, Jared Taylor and other well-known bigots at various conferences. Steele also penned a self-published book in defense of racism. His websites, Conspiracy PenPal and Nickel Rants, feature extremist essays describing black people as subhuman and Jews are conspiring to control the world.
Once one understands the alternative reality the Steeles have lived in for decades, the bizarre nature of their behavior makes sense. Steele, a short man with a large, oddly shaped head who most people would find ridiculous on sight, has been manipulating his family, friends and associates for so long they know no other reality. He is likely a classic psychopath.
Steele may have believed that his influence extended to the general public. In fact, selecting a jury of 11 women may have been an effort to ‘charm’ them, in keeping with his narcissistic image of himself.
Regardlessly, justice has been done.
etapravda on May 05 at 1:07 p.m.
It was no brainer…McAllister (Defense Counsel) was just milking attorney fees….he should have tried to cut a deal….job well done by the US Attorney….time to go sit in the pokey for Edgar Steele….mozoltov
maria on May 05 at 1:08 p.m.
He reminds me of Ismael in Fanny & Alexander.
SpokaneLiberal on May 05 at 1:46 p.m.
If your “expert” is unavailable during the trial get another one. It was a delay tactic to have him out of the country “vacationing.”
The defecation thing is just a distraction. He conspired to kill his wife as the audio and testimony shows.
Chompers on May 05 at 1:57 p.m.
My, the politically correct hate-buzzards love to dance around their piece of meat, thrown to them by an utterly corrupt government, judiciary and connected policing agencies. Enjoy your cackles and jokes. Yep, Steele and his supporters lost a battle. We’ll be back to win the war. At that time, we’ll be smug to offer you liberalista a healthy slice of crow pie to eat.
effrepublicans on May 05 at 2:14 p.m.
@Chompers… and what war are you referring to? How will it be won? Through more hate and ignorance? Or just plain stupidity?
Talk about the crazies coming out of the woodwork to defend one of their own.
done on May 05 at 2:15 p.m.
Yay! It’s about damn time Edgar was exposed! I agree with Penswomen.
vladimirvonbrinklehoff on May 05 at 2:18 p.m.
I’m no racist but this guy seems to have been railroaded. Why couldn’t they wait for the expert or get a new one? Why would his wife stand by him if he meant to kill her? Did the hired man get off or with far less charges? Is there any real proof? I would think that he had reasonable doubt, he shouldn’t be in jail!
Just my two cents,
Vladimir
Loudin on May 05 at 2:41 p.m.
Yeah…this guy was totally railroaded. I knew this verdict was coming though, thanks to all the condensation trails in the sky yesterday.
Loudin
PS: Man didn’t walk on the moon, as it’s made of cheese. Conspiracy!
Chompers on May 05 at 2:41 p.m.
@SpokaneLiberal: Dr. George Papcun — one of two expert witnesses — would have testified in person had the trial been held in Cd’A. But the trial was moved to Boise largely due to the Media’s constant prejudicial negative “reporting”. Due to the change of trial venue (and date), Papcun had long ago booked an expensive Polynesian vacation as a personal commitment. I believe it’s fact that the defense considered hiring a private jet to get Papcun back to testify based on Judge Winmill’s allowing it, but based on the critical time-frame, even a private jet would not have been quick enough.
As for the audio recordings of Fairfax framing Steele, they are rife with falsifications, deceit and manipulation of reality. FBI agent Sotka is as dirty as a pigsty. The transcript of Sotka’s frame-up and subsequent arrest of Steele last year is a breathtaking display of outrageous lying and improvised fantasy with intent to incriminate. Last, the Judge unquestionably “got advised” that he should prevent expert testimony that would have ripped the authenticity of the recordings. Instead, a gaggle of feminism heard what sounded like Steele and thought it represented what really happened.
It’s no surprise acknowledged liberals such as you celebrate pervasively corrupt powers-that-be and media.
lowtechmaster on May 05 at 3:42 p.m.
Unlike the legislature, the citizens of Idaho usually get it right!!
ejames1986 on May 05 at 5:35 p.m.
In Edgar Steele’s article “Dear Mr. Obama” (located at http://www.conspiracypenpal.com/rants/dearmr.htm), he clearly outlines his fundamental/core beliefs:
“You see, many consider me to be a racist of the first order. The anti-American, Jewish Anti-Defamation League (ADL) repeatedly (and wrongfully) refers to me as a “white supremacist.” In fact, I am a White Separatist, believing only in the US Constitution and its guarantee of a right to free association, which includes the right to choose to live apart from others of my choice.”
“That I penned a lengthy (but very readable) book entitled Defensive Racism is not one bit at odds with my willingness to work with you as my President. The philosophical underpinnings of my concept of defensive racism are kin to the concept of personal assertiveness and outright reject the aggressive core of White supremacy.”
“At all times during the past two years, you have comported yourself honorably and dispatched your campaign obligations with efficiency, equanimity, eloquence, grace and intelligence. If you carry those qualities through to your presidency, then there is a very real possibility that you could emerge as one of the great Presidents of this Republic. I sincerely hope that proves to be the case. America is in very real trouble today and needs such leadership.”
Does this sound like an “extremist” rant to you? I scoured a number of Mr. Steele’s articles in search of radical racist remarks, and I couldn’t find a single one; in fact, the vast majority of his writings are politically-centered. Of course, what better way to silence a political opponent than to defame him and lock him away in prison… er, gulag?
Thayne on May 05 at 5:35 p.m.
My my the closet white supremists came out on this one. 12 people were wrong, blind, deaf and dumb - yeah right. The case hinged on one expert - he’s the only expert in the world? If Mr. Steele had been a man of color the likes of heathen gliebe, tyllim, chompers and buffalo kill would be cheering and calling for the death penalty.
misjustice on May 05 at 5:54 p.m.
I hope that Steele is picking out his prison name; chose wisely, choices have consequences! He’ll also be soiling himself a lot…especially if his cell mate is not a short white guy.
greenlibertarian on May 05 at 8:04 p.m.
Skeltor goes down; good, freak and bigot.
buffalokill on May 05 at 12:02 p.m.
“Prosecutors say Steele wanted his wife killed so he could pursue a relationship with a 25-year-old Ukrainian woman.”
And we all know that you have to kill your wife, in order to make such a pursuit. Laughable. Just another victim of the NWO.
buffalostompedmyhead mistyped, was meant to be ZOG not NWO.
ejames1986 on May 06 at 12:06 a.m.
I’d like to add, if I may, that as unpopular and politically incorrect Mr. Steele’s beliefs and assertions may be, he’s entitled to those opinions; as we all are. That’s the great thing about America (or at least it used to be)— the freedom of speech and of association; the right to come together with other individuals and collectively express, promote, pursue, and defend common interests. I can’t say with certainty, but I fear that it’s because he’s exercised those rights that he’s in prison right now— and not for the crime for which he purportedly commited.
whatjustice on May 06 at 10:44 a.m.
First of all, Mr. Steele is INNOCENT!
I wish people that were posting on here would stop before hitting submit and read what they are writing. They are “offended” and “upset” over what Mr. Steele does or doesn’t stand for; but, then they turn around and spew the same insults and hatred that supposedly offend them by the groups that Mr. Steele has been associated with in the past. Talk about HYPOCRITES!!! All of you!!
On another note: If people would stop and look at all venues of getting information then the one sided, biased, corrupted media that people seem to fall faithfully in line with maybe people would be able to form a more informed opinion then just a “yes sir” response.
There WAS more then one audio expert to refute the tapes that were presented. Unfortunately, even though both experts were MORE then qualified the other expert was denied due to ridiculous and absurd reasons. All evidence was not allowed and the defense kept getting shut down no matter what they did; due to a corrupt and injust system.
It makes me wonder how some of you can sleep at night with some of the accusations and things that are thrown around about people that you don’t even know.
Mr. Steele did NOT do what he has been WRONGLY accused of. He should NOT have been convicted. The appeal will show all the corrupt and insane things that were presented by the inappropriate and unprofessional so called prosecution and prove that Mr. Steele is INNOCENT!
Penswoman on May 06 at 11:25 a.m.
I must object to this thread being used to promote white supremacist propaganda by the several white separatists contributing to it. I see nothing wrong with discussing the trial or Edgar Steele’s strange life, but advocating for white supremacy is inappropriate and violates the user agreement.
I did get a chuckle from the fact none of these people realize the irony of projecting violent crime onto Jews and people of color on the same day a white supremacist is convicted of attempting to murder his wife and mother-in-law. I’m sure Malia and Sasha Obama, and their children, will be fine. Edgar Steele and his family, obviously not. Nor is this unusual, the white nationalist movement attracts a disproportionate share of pathological people.
Penswoman on May 06 at 5:23 p.m.
Erika, don’t violate the user agreement and there is no problem. But, obviously, I am not the only reader who finds advocacy for white supremacy beyond, shall we say, the pale. Nor were you the only one doing it.
Feel free to continue contributing without advocacy. The smart things you’ve said have nothing to do with promoting white supremacy. You were the first to zero in on how self-centered Edgar Steele is and his contemptuous treatment of his family. His personality is the key to how he ended up sending himself to prison.
gailandmarshall on May 06 at 8:18 p.m.
The people who believe he was framed remind me of that South Park episode “The Jeffersons”. It’s a little opposite of the current topic… basically the episode is making fun of the opinion that white cops frame rich black men like OJ… but the retard level is about the same with the people commenting on this article. The FBI going to the trouble of endangering a woman and planting fabricated evidence just to frame this nobody loser? Riiiight.
misjustice on May 06 at 8:29 p.m.
Well, he probably shouldn’t pick stinky as his prison name; even though he pooped his pants…
; )
Note to HEATHEN:
Free speech is not “free” on a paid website, owned and operated by a newspaper. Just ask sqawken Hawken; he’s been banned for days at a time and had his whiny posts jerked. And then complained about his free speech rights, too. Posting here is a privilege, not a right.
Just sayin’.
; )
gailandmarshall on May 06 at 8:38 p.m.
Heathen - “You’re not the boss of this thread”… lol nice line, I remember back in 3rd grade when I used that one.
How about when you said “As someone who considers herself part of the “damned,” I can name a thousand other battles and priorities that we, as humanity, not just the White race, are dealing with…” What do you mean you consider yourself part of the “damned”?
ejames1986 on May 06 at 9:52 p.m.
You’re a real piece of work, Penswoman. Could you please reference a single comment advocating racism/white supremacy on this thread? I merely cited sources and provided you with statistics, which no doubt had some validity, so you opted to flag my post. Rather than address the issues, you skirt around them and resort to Ad Hominem attacks, deriding Mr. Steel’s appearance and character. If anyone’s posts should be flagged, they should be yours. Perhaps you overlooked forum standards about refraining from posting defamatory or libelous comments?
I’m angry about being called the very thing I abhor; in fact, I downright resent it.
Penswoman on May 07 at 5:40 a.m.
Several of Edgar Steele’s followers, white supremacists, have posted racist propaganda and links to their sites to these threads. Doing so violates the Spokesman-Review user agreement. The paper does not want to be associated with promoting hatred and has every right to delete such material.
The First Amendment, any educated person should know, has nothing to do with the communications of private persons or entities. It applies only to government action that curbs speech by individuals or groups. Since the SR is a private business, it is free to control what occurs on its site.
I applaud the moderator for not allowing white supremacists to use this site for recruitment.
misjustice on May 08 at 12:36 p.m.
HEATHEN fumes, “…sneaky little b!@#es! While they conveniently hide behind their fake screen names and IP anonymizers.”
Since when is HEATHEN GLIEBE a “real” name and not a fake screen name? I mean, I know that Erich Gliebe is a neo-nazi leader; so is HEATHEN GLIEBE his daughter, and or wife?
misjustice on May 08 at 4:02 p.m.
HEATHEN, hmmm “envelope full of goodies”…sounds like something the local FBI Office should know about…maybe you’ll be the next neo-nazi hater to go to prison?
misjustice on May 09 at 5:41 p.m.
Hmmm, all of HEATHEN BLIEBE’s posts have been removed…did the FBI get her?
ejames1986 on May 09 at 11:10 p.m.
Nah, just removed by the SR moderator. Liberal media… go figure.
misjustice on May 10 at 7:38 p.m.
That’s rich, ejames, callin’ the SR “liberal”….Ya really got me there, Lol!
; )
whatjustice on May 11 at 3:06 p.m.
Do any of you know Edgar Steele personally to be able to ascert the position that he is self - absorbed or self - centered? Before you jump to such conclusions maybe stop to think that you do not know him. You only “know” him by what the biased one sided corrupted media puts forth about the man.
Today’s society is so sensitive and over dramatic. We have also turned into a country of “let us jump on the bandwagon because we don’t have opinion of our own”. I wish everyone would look at all sides of the story, get all the information before just jumping to a conclusion from a corrupted source of media (and I’m not just talking about this newspaper) and THEN make a decision.
I DARE people to have an opinion of their own and a thought of their own and wake up to the brainwashing that is going on in todays society.
RedCedar on May 12 at 10:50 p.m.
I don’t know any of these people, but it sounds like there’s plenty enough sleaze to go around on all sides of this case. The physical reality is that nobody was injured by whatever plot did or did not exist here. I’m not even sure why it was a federal case.
TheProudGoyim on June 01 at 10:59 p.m.
The problem here is the same problem Ernst Zundel had when the Government did its dastardly deeds against him. Ernst Zundel Like Edgar Steele exposed the Jews and he didn’t pull any punches. I am ashamed that I live in this country sometimes.
Joe
See CCFIILE.com for other controversies