SPOKANE — Potential jurors in the trial of a man accused of planting a bomb at Spokane’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade could be asked if they’re involved with the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations or any white supremacy group when jury selection begins Sept. 12.
Kevin Harpham, who has extensive ties to white supremacist groups, has pleaded not guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, committing a hate crime and other charges. He could face life in prison if convicted.
Authorities found the bomb along the planned parade route and defused it before the device could explode during the Jan. 17 parade.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has submitted its list of questions for potential jurors.
There are basic questions about where people live and how much news they watch. There also are questions about race and ethnic origin and whether jurors would allow such issues to influence their decisions in the trial.
But jurors also could be asked if they have any involvement with groups like the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, skinhead groups, The American Nazi Party, The Jewish Defense League, The Nation Of Islam or any type of white supremacist or state militia organization.
Prosecutors could move to dismiss any potential juror affiliated with such groups.
Defense attorneys have yet to file what questions they will ask. U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush will ultimately decide what questions can be posed to potential jurors.
Despite the charges, little is known about a possible motive in the case because federal prosecutors have been granted their request to seal court documents about the investigation that led authorities to arrest Harpham, 37, on March 9. Prosecutors contend releasing details would hamper an ongoing investigation and could taint the jury pool.
At a recent hearing, prosecutors said Harpham took photographs of himself at the march, as well as photos of black children and a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice has said three of Harpham’s family members previously appeared before a grand jury and will be called to testify about racist comments made by Harpham.
The grand jury indictment contended Harpham planted the bomb in advance of the Spokane parade “because of actual or perceived race, color and national origin” of participants.
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act was passed by Congress in 2009, and this is its first use in the Eastern District of Washington.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, has said Harpham made more than 1,000 postings on an Internet site used by racists called the Vanguard News Network. The law center also has said Harpham belonged to a neo-Nazi group called the National Alliance.
His father, Cecil Harpham, has said his son talked to racists on the Internet regularly but never acted on racial hate.
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