Attorneys for the Republican National Convention protesters known as the RNC8 have asked a judge to force an FBI informant to testify.
The defense wants Andrew Darst, whom the FBI hired to infiltrate the "RNC Welcoming Committee," to respond to a subpoena they say he has evaded.
Darst was far more than an observer; he was a participant in the planning of protests, and even a leader, said Ted Dooley, attorney for defendant Erik Oseland.
"I want to question him about that," Dooley told the court.
Other attorneys said Darst was the source of many of the allegations detailed in the criminal complaints charging each defendant with felony conspiracy to commit riot and conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property.
They believe his sworn testimony would differ from the information in the complaints.
Two other people who went undercover for the Ramsey County sheriff's office testified this week in the pretrial hearing in Ramsey County District Court.
Neither deputy Marilyn Hedstrom, who posed as an anti-war sympathizer by the name of "Norma Jean," nor Chris Dugger, who worked as a volunteer informant and was later hired as a sheriff's deputy, said they had any direct knowledge of the defendants' advocacy of property damage or the use of dangerous weapons.
The RNC8 were arrested and put in jail immediately before the convention.
Darst, 31, was served with a subpoena this week at the address listed on his driver's license, said attorney Jordan Kushner.
His mother received the document and later told the FBI agent who was working with Darst that he did not live there.
Prosecutor Derek Fitch argued before Judge Teresa Warner that the defense has not proved that Darst's testimony would exonerate the defendants.
The FBI continues to pay Darst $1,500 a month to be available in the RNC8 case, one defense attorney said.
The RNC8 defendants are Max Specktor, 21; Monica Bicking, 24; Garrett Fitzgerald, 27; Erin Trimmer, 24; Erik Oseland, 23; Robert Czernik, 34; Nathanael Secor, 28; and Luce Guillen-Givins, 25.
RNC protesters' attorney want informant to testify They say Darst has evaded subpoenas |