Jury gets case of white supremacist accused of rape threat

CONCORD, N.H (AP) — A federal jury began deliberating Friday in the case of a self-proclaimed white nationalist accused of threatening to rape the wife of a man who was part of a racist group he felt was harassing him.

Christopher Cantwell, a New Hampshire resident and radio host who became known after participating in a deadly 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, was arrested in January on federal charges of extortion, making threats and cyberstalking.

Authorities say he used the Telegram messaging app to convey a threat last year to a Missouri man that he would rape the man’s wife if he didn’t give up information on the leader of a white supremacist group of which the man was a member, authorities said.

Cantwell also is accused of threatening to expose the man’s identity if he didn’t provide personal details on the leader. Authorities say he threatened to report the Missouri man, who has several children, to the state’s child division for drug use and racist views. He did call the agency, but it did not feel the complaint justified further investigation.

Embezzlement, sham marriage charges get city treasurer fired

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The treasurer of Philadelphia was fired Friday after federal prosecutors charged him with embezzling money from customers at a bank where he previously worked and entering into a sham marriage to win U.S. citizenship.

Mayor Jim Kenney noted that the allegations against Christian Dunbar did not involve his work with the city, but said that he had been dismissed in light of the allegations. He also asked the city’s inspector general to review the treasurer’s office for the time Dunbar served there as deputy treasurer and treasurer.

“This review can help resolve any concerns about the office’s conduct and transactions during this period,” Kenney said.