Crime

Coast Guard Officer Pleads Not Guilty To Gun And Drug Charges

Prosecutors say Christopher Hasson was stockpiling weapons in a plot "to murder innocent civilians."

Coast Guard Officer Pleads Not Guilty To Gun And Drug Charges
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The U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant authorities say was stockpiling weapons in a plot "to murder innocent civilians" was arraigned in a Maryland federal court Monday.

Christopher Hasson pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges, including unlawful possession of unregistered silencers and possession of 17 firearms by an unlawful user and addict of a controlled substance. If convicted on all charges, Hasson faces up to 31 years in prison.

According to court documents filed by prosecutors last month, Hasson, who self-identified as a white nationalist, had compiled a list of prominent Democrats and journalists to target. Names on that alleged hit list included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and MSNBC's Joe Scarborough.

Although prosecutors called Hasson a "domestic terrorist" in those court documents, they have not charged him with any terrorism-related counts.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.