A Green Township man turned would-be terrorist will be sentenced in federal court in Cincinnati Monday morning.
Christopher Cornell was arrested almost two years ago when he was buying semi-automatic weapons and 600 rounds of ammunition. The Justice Department says he planned to build, plant, and detonate pipe bombs at and near the U.S. Capitol and then use the firearms to shoot and kill employees and officers there.
The government says Cornell established and used Twitter accounts and that's where he met people to plan the attack. The FBI says Cornell told an informant that “we should just wage jihad under our own orders and plan attacks and everything.”
At the time of his initial court appearance Cornell's father said his son was coerced into this; and that he is being portrayed as "one of them,'' referring to terrorists. Cornell pleaded guilty in August to charges of:
- attempted murder of government officials and employees
- possession of a firearm in furtherance of an attempted crime of violence
- attempted material support from a terrorist organization.
Cornell faces up to life in prison.
