KKK leader faces new charges

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/May 14, 2003
By Robert Baird

A Washington County Ku Klux Klan leader already charged with plotting to buy hand grenades to blow up abortion clinics was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on additional firearms and explosives charges.

David Hull, 40, of Amwell, was named in a 10-count superseding indictment that also charged him with tampering with a witness.

Hull, an imperial wizard for the White Knights, with ties to the KKK, is already being held without bond on the earlier charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Picking said the additional charges carry a possible maximum term of 120 years in prison, a $2.5 million fine or both.

Hull was charged yesterday with possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful transfer of a firearm, unlawful manufacture of a firearm and distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction.

He also was charged with illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

The indictment charged that on July 6, Hull possessed two bombs and a firearms silencer; on Oct. 12 he had another bomb; and on Nov. 19, he possessed, transferred and made a bomb.

Hull is charged with teaching, demonstrating and distributing information on the making and use of a pipe bomb in May 2002 and on Nov. 19. The indictment said he possessed 15 firearms on Feb. 13.

The indictment said Hull tampered with an unidentified witness on March 10 by attempting to influence the witness' testimony about the making of a destructive device.

In addition, the indictment said the witness was asked to testify that an article on bomb making, written by "The Unknown Terrorist," wasn't written by Hull, when the defendant knew the statement to be false.

During prior proceedings, federal authorities said they had seized 15 firearms, including an assault rifle and various powders, chemicals and other components for additional explosive devices, from Hull's rural property.

Hull also allegedly told a cooperating witness that he had "created a suicide bomb on wheels" by rigging his car so it would explode with the flip of a switch, according to prosecutors.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reported that Hull's gray Mazda had been refashioned with a switch and a wire. However, the wire did not connect to anything.

An ATF agent testified during a detention hearing in February that Hull had given talks around the state on how to build pipe bombs.

Agents said a search of Hull's home turned up diagrams for making firearm silencers and pipe bombs.