Steele Enters Plea, Bomb Found In SUV

Steele, known for his unsuccessful defense of the Aryan Nations in the landmark 2000 case that bankrupted the racist group, pleaded with U.S. District Court Judge Candy Dale to release him from jail before next week’s bail hearing to tend to his clients and “put my affairs in order.” “I’m certainly no threat to witnesses or jurors and there’s no evidence, absolutely no evidence, to support that,” Steele said. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci Whelan told Dale that developments “within the last few hours” show Steele is “a substantial risk to the public,” and the judge ordered Steele held pending next week’s hearing/ Meghann M. Cuniff , Sirens & Gavels. More here . Also: Coeur d’Alene Press story.

• Cutline: Firefighters conduct a search of the vehicle after what looked like a pipe bomb was removed at the Fast Lane Quick Lube in Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday. (SR Photo: Kathy Plonka/SR)

Question: Do you agree with prosecutors that Aryan Nations attorney Edgar Steele is a flight risk?