On last night’s 10:00 p.m. newscast, Cincinnati FOX affiliate WXIX was set to air an interview with a terror suspect who allegedly hatched a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol.
Yesterday, in what the station describes as a “late night emergency hearing,” the defense team for Christopher Cornell tried to block the interview from airing. Today, a judge allowed the suspect’s interview with Tricia Macke to air.
“This is every defense lawyer’s worst nightmare, When your client speaks publicly about a case,” WXIX legal analyst Mike Allen told Amy Wagner when she asked why Cornell’s attorneys were trying to block the station from airing the interview.
Federal judge Susan Beckwith heard the case where Cornell’s attorney, Richard Smith-Monahan, argued that Cornell could not receive a fair trial in Cincinnati if the interview was heard by the public. However, Beckwith ruled that the original Jan. 16 order that barred contact with Cornell was “ambiguous.”
Cornell was indicted on three felony counts, including attempted murder of government employees and officials, solicitation to commit a crime of violence and possession of a firearm in furtherance of an attempted crime of violence. Cornell plead not guilty on Jan. 21. He is expected back in court on those charges in April.
On Jan. 14 Cornell was arrested at a Colerain Township gun shop after allegedly plotting with a FBI informant to place pipe bombs at the Capitol and shoot employees inside the federal building.