emptywheel

It's definitely easier to convict those who claim affiliation with a foreign terrorist organization. You really think this case would've gotten anywhere near a trial if they defendants were ISIS supporters?

Why do you say it is easier? Offhand, I can only think of a singled failed federal prosecution of right-wing extremists for a terrorism-related incident in the past 10 years--the Hutaree militia case (and that probably only bc of the disastrous decision to charge w/sedition).

For right wing sting cases, I think you have to consider the fact that there aren’t very many cases brought to begin with and that many end in shorter sentences. The material support charge makes a huge, huge difference in sting cases against Islamic extremists.

Ryan, you said it was easier to convict, but evidence doesn't show it; almost all dt cases in recent years have been successful. Whether sentences are shorter/longer (I don't think anybody has studied that) isn't relevant. It seems equally easy to obtain a conviction.