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Coast Guard officer accused of stockpiling hit list hasn't been charged with terrorism

Labeled a "domestic terrorist" by prosecutors, Christopher Hasson has been in federal custody since he was arrested in February on drug and firearm charges.
Image: Christopher Hasson
Christopher Hasson in US District Court, Greenbelt on weapons and drug charges.Art Lien
/ Source: Associated Press

GREENBELT, Md. — A Coast Guard officer accused of stockpiling guns and compiling a hit list of prominent Democrats and network TV journalists is seeking his release from federal custody since prosecutors haven't charged him with any terrorism-related offenses.

Christopher Hasson has remained in custody since his Feb. 15 arrest and subsequent indictment in Maryland on firearms and drug charges. His attorney Liz Oyer wrote in a Monday letter that prosecutors recently informed the court they don't expect to seek any additional charges.

In a court filing, prosecutors called Hasson a "domestic terrorist" and said he "intends to murder innocent civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country."

In February, a magistrate judge ordered Hasson detained but said he was willing to revisit his decision if prosecutors didn't bring more serious charges.