The trial began this week with plaintiffs calling Jason Kessler to the stand. He’s the local blogger accused of conspiring with the likes of Richard Spencer, a leader of the Alt-Right from Washington. Reporter Lisa Provence says Kessler went on the attack against his former ally.
“It was a snipe fest, including Jason calling him a sociopath and a narcissist – that he seemed like a serial killer.”
Then it was time for the defense to present its case.
“The plaintiffs called 36 witnesses," Provence says. "The defense, they called four people.”
In their closing argument, Provence says some of the defendants seemed unhinged. Spencer compared himself to Jesus, and Chris Cantwell insisted loudly that he was innocent.
“His testimony has been profanity-laden, racist-laden throughout the trial," she recalls. "In his closing argument he was shouting that he did not engage in a conspiracy to commit violence, even though he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault.”
With so many defendants involved in this case and millions of dollars in fines at stake, Provence says deliberations could take several days.
