Article: Hale defense rests after calling no witnesses His attorney calls government case 'weak'

White supremacist Matthew Hale's defense rested in minutes Tuesday after calling not one witness to the stand in Hale's murder solicitation trial.

Hale's attorney, Thomas Durkin, asked for an acquittal, saying the prosecution's evidence "wouldn't even pass muster" in a simple drug case.

"This is the weakest case I've ever seen the government present," Durkin said.

U.S. District Judge James Moody denied the request and set closing arguments for today. The jury could also begin deliberating.

Hale, 32 of East Peoria, is charged with two counts of soliciting the murder of federal judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow and three counts of obstructing justice.

Prosecutors say Hale asked his head of security, ...

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