McWhorter was sentenced to 190 months and Morris to 170 months, the statement said. On August 5, 2017, McWhorter and Morris drove a rented truck “to bomb the DAF Islamic Center,” a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. An improvised explosive device was detonated in the mosque. No one was injured in the blast. “Hate-fueled acts of violence, such as the bombing of the Dar al-Farouk Islamic Center, violate our laws and violate our values as a nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark of the Department of Civil Rights. “This heinous bombardment instilled fear in an entire religious community. These defendants decided to confess to their crimes and assist in the prosecution of the political rights of the individual who led them to join an extensive criminal conspiracy in the white supremacy. “ McWhorter’s lawyer, Christopher Madel, said: “Michael is excited to be back in life. I’m absolutely confident he will be a productive member of our society.” Joe Morris’s lawyer, Robert Richman, said in a statement: “For the last four years, Joe Morris has been doing everything in his power to make amends.” Michael Paul, a special agent in charge of the FBI in Minneapolis, called it a “hate-based violent attack.” “More broadly, this was an attack on all religious communities that openly practice their religions with a reasonable expectation of peaceful freedom to do so.” CNN’s Scottie Andrew contributed to this report.
