2 men sentenced for 2017 mosque bombing
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UPDATE: Two men connected to a Bloomington mosque bombing in 2017 were sentenced on federal charges Tuesday.
KSTP Reporter Eric Chaloux reports that Michael McWhorter was sentenced to over 15 years (190 months) in prison for the Bloomington mosque bombing and several crimes in Illinois.
Prosecutors asked for a 50% reduction in McWhorter’s sentence due to his help in the case.
Prosecutors also asked for a 50% reduction in the sentence for Joe Morris, who was sentenced to over 14 years (170 months) in prison Tuesday afternoon.
They testified against the alleged mastermind of the plot — Emily Hari, who was previously known as Michael Hari before she came out as transgender.
Hari has already been sentenced to 53 years in prison after being found guilty of five counts during a jury trial in December of 2020. Hari was charged with damaging property because of its religious character, forcibly obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs, conspiracy to commit felonies with fire and explosives, using a destructive device in a crime of violence and possessing an unregistered destructive device
RELATED: Militia leader sentenced to 53 years in Bloomington mosque bombing
“That was, for us, was a horrifying moment — through that, we lost our sense of security, it damaged us as a community,” Imam Mohamed Omar, the executive director at Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center, said.
Omar was in the next room, getting ready for morning prayers when the incident happened.
“Thank God, days and months and years passed, we are healing together,” he said.
The imam and other faith leaders spoke at the sentencing in St. Paul, asking the judge for clemency for the two men, who pleaded guilty to their roles in the bombing.
“We, as a community, stood by them and showed forgiveness and compassion because of our faith,” Omar said.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS will have more on this story Tuesday night at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
An earlier version of this report appears below.
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Two men who bombed a Bloomington mosque in 2017 are scheduled to be sentenced on federal charges Tuesday.
Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris both pleaded guilty to five charges two years ago – and both face a minimum 35-year-long prison sentence.
However, some of those who were targeted in the attack are asking for mercy for McWhorter and Morris as they push for forgiveness.
Muslim leaders held a news conference at 8 a.m., and the sentencing hearing began at 9 a.m. You can watch their news conference in the video player below. (Article continues below video.)
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Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center leaders and clergy are speaking before the sentencing of two men in connection with a 2017 bombing and are asking the judge for compassion and clemency.
Victims who were inside the mosque at the time plan to talk publicly Tuesday morning, and are calling for compassion from the judge, as well as a lighter sentence for the two men who targeted their place of worship that day.
“I could have been the person who were either, that got killed or got injured. I was the next room when the attack, when the room the attack had landed the bomb,” said Mohamed Omar, the Executive Director of Dar al-Farooq.
Mosque members have called for justice since a pipe bomb went off inside in 2017, and two of the three people convicted will be sentenced to at least 35 years in prison.
McWhorter and Morris, who were militia members, admitted to investigators they had helped plan the attack.
Victims are presenting a petition to the judge with more than 100 signatures not only asking for compassion and mercy for the men but restorative justice.
Mosque members explain they’ve seen both McWhorter and Morris express extreme regret, and think they were manipulated into committing the crime.
The two men – both from Illinois – said at the time they were trying to scare Muslims out of the country.
They later testified against the alleged mastermind of the plot – Emily Hari, who was previously known as Michael Hari – before she came out as transgender.
Hari has already been sentenced to 53 years in prison after being found guilty of five counts during a jury trial in December of 2020. Hari was charged with damaging property because of its religious character, forcibly obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs, conspiracy to commit felonies with fire and explosives, using a destructive device in a crime of violence and possessing an unregistered destructive device
RELATED: Militia leader sentenced to 53 years in Bloomington mosque bombing
The explosion was caught on camera, and while it didn’t hurt or kill anyone, it left lasting and emotional scars.
“Whenever I am worshipping… I am thinking many, many bad thoughts, that when will the next person come, or if it is safe,” said Omar.
Check back for updates on the judge’s decision.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reporter Eric Chaloux is in the courtroom and will have the latest on this story tonight. You can follow his Twitter feed for updates below.
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