In a shocking turn of events, a West Virginia man has been arrested for allegedly targeting the Jewish community in social media posts and online comments during the trial of the Tree of Life synagogue shooter. Hardy Carroll Lloyd, a self-proclaimed “reverend” of a white supremacy movement, was taken into custody without incident on federal charges of witness tampering, obstruction, and transmitting threats.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Lloyd made several comments in May calling for the release of Robert Bowers, the man who carried out the deadly attack on the Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018. One of his posts on the Russian social media site VKontakte read, "Free Robert Bowers Now!! ... We need to support anyone who kills Jews." Three days later, he allegedly posted, "Robert Bowers did Pgh a Favour. Any juror who finds him guilty is guilty of anti-White racism."

In addition to these comments, Lloyd also threatened to publicly release the names and addresses of the jurors. Authorities discovered white supremacy stickers with Lloyd's website around Pittsburgh, some of which included a swastika and the words "White Pride." These findings suggest that Lloyd had been actively promoting his extremist views throughout the city. The complaint further outlines offensive and racist posts that Lloyd allegedly made against Black people and transgender individuals.

The charges against Lloyd carry a total maximum of 35 years in prison upon conviction. FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall emphasized the seriousness of these threats, stating, "Threats of violence used to intimidate or influence a community or jury cannot and will not be tolerated. The FBI makes it a priority to investigate crimes based on religious bias. In this case, the Jewish community was specifically targeted by these threats."

This is not the first time that Lloyd has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Last year, he was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety for making online comments indicating that he would carry a firearm onto the Texas State Capitol grounds and challenge any law enforcement officer who attempted to stop him. It remains unclear if he is still wanted on those charges. Lloyd's history of criminal behavior includes a federal conviction in 2010 for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Additionally, he was acquitted in 2006 in connection with the shooting death of his former girlfriend.

The arrest of Hardy Carroll Lloyd serves as a stern warning that threats and intimidation will face severe consequences. As U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld stated, "Jury trials are a hallmark of the American justice system, and attempts to intimidate witnesses or jurors will be met with a strong response. The use of hateful threats in an effort to undermine a trial is especially troubling."

The trial of Robert Bowers, who was sentenced to death last week, marked a significant moment in the quest for justice for the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue attack. Lloyd's alleged attempts to disrupt the trial and threaten the jury only serve to highlight the importance of upholding the integrity and fairness of the judicial process.