Originally published on Forbes.com.
Kent Hovind has been in federal prison for nearly a decade on tax related charges – failing to withhold payroll taxes, structuring withdrawals to avoid currency reporting requirements and corruptly endeavoring to impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws. As his sentence is nearing its end, he faces a new charge relating to his filing of a “lis pendens” to interfere with the government’s sale of ministry property that had been seized. Kent seems to be pretty pessimistic about the outcome of the trial of himself and his co-defendant Paul John Hansen. The trial is scheduled to commence on February 9th in Pensacola and Kent has indicated that he thinks the deck is stacked against him. So his supporters are waging a public defense.
Noise And Light
Kent is asking his supporters to use the tactics that Gideon used against the Midianites and the Amalekites .
So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
Much to my chagrin, the struggle is currently being fought mainly with youtube videos and podcasts rather than written material, so I have had to invest more time into listening to things than I generally like. I’m more of a reader.
The Free Kent Youtube Upswell
Probably the best nutshell of what is coming is in this interview of Kent Hovind by Rudy Davis for his youtube channel LoneStar1776. The interview is titled “Kent Hovind explains his innocence after 99 months”.
The plan is to blitz Eric Holder to persuade him to tell his minions in Pensacola to back off followed by a Congressional investigation into the various abuses that have taken place in the case. Kent is hoping to be able to testify before Congress, but will be satisfied in the short run just by having the current charges dropped, his previous conviction reversed and some compensation paid. At least in this interview he did not specify an amount.
In the interview Kent indicated that Ernie Land is coordinating his defense and that trusteeship of his ministry had been turned over to Glenn Stoll who was succeeded by Paul John Hansen, who is now Kent’s co-defendant. Rudy recorded a public statement by Hansen.
As far as the public outreach goes Rudy Davis hosted a conference call titled “Christian brothers come together to FREE Kent Hovind”
At just shy of an hour and a quarter that one was a major life span investment. (I’ve been through it more than once). The updates on what is happening are at 11:02 and 15:58.
There was an interview with Reverend James David Manning
Reverend Manning asked Kent some tough questions about independent contractors and church status, that Kent kind of dodged.
An interview with Pastor Steve Anderson
Rudy also indicated that there will be an interview with Don Bidondi on Infowars today. I confirmed with Don that the interview will be sometime between 6:00 and 9:00 PM on Freddomizer Rado.
Freekent.com has links to other interviews and commentary. I have not heard them all, although based on the ones I have heard I suspect Kent has developed a pretty standard spiel. He is pretty good at keeping the interview on his chosen track. Critics of Kent accuse him of using a technique in his anti-evolution debates called the “Gish Gallop”.
There is yet another reason never to engage in a live debate with a creationist: They typically use their time to make numerous rapid-fire claims, often erroneous, all spewed out in a barrage that is impossible to rebut in the time allowed. This is sometimes called the “Gish Gallop,” named after Duane Gish and mentioned in that Wikipedia article about him.
Kent Hovind is a master of this technique. In fact, he’s has a series of arguments, complete with slides, that he pulls out repeatedly. They’re all memorized, and his ability to pull them out, not just from his memory but his computer as well, at a moment’s notice, is simply phenomenal.
Kent regularly brings up the fact that one of the prosecutors in his first trial was John David Roy Atchison who hung himself in a prison cell after being arrested in a pedophile sting. My hesitancy in listening to even more interviews has to do with not wanting to, once again, hear about the doll and the jar of Vaseline that Atchison had in his possession when arrested. The implication is that someone as wicked as Atchison must have spent his time prosecuting godly people.
How Far Has The Outreach Gone?
Kent has had quite a few interviews and some of them are with people with significant followings. As far as I can discern they would mostly be characterized as extremists. I really enjoy Rudy Davis. His affect reminds me of Fred Ward’s portrayal of Gus Grissom in The Right Stuff. I don’t think there is a right wing conspiracy theory that he doesn’t like. Probably his most out there statement was calling for the beheading of President Obama (volunteering to be the beheader if necessary), since that is how Cromwell dealt with Charles I.
That earned Rudy a visit from the Secret Service, which his wife recorded. Frankly, I think that Rudy and the two agents acquitted themselves quite well. Once he made it clear to these fellow whose sworn duty is to protect the President that he only wanted him to be executed after a proper trial, they asked him a few questions, some of which he refused to answer. He declined their request to search his home. The agents left.
When I told my covivant about Rudy’s Secret Service interview, I had one of those feeling good about being an American moments. There have been 12 Presidents in the White House during my lifetime. Three have been shot. That’s 25%. Maybe there is another job with that kind of exposure to taking a bullet, but I don’t know what it is. So I’m glad that the Secret Service takes threats against the President quite seriously. On the other hand, if you think the President is guilty of a crime punishable by death, you have the right to put that out there.
I don’t think that Kent’s supporters have broken through to a wide hearing by run of the mill conservative Christians. I base this on checking in with Reverend William Thornton, who blogs on Southern Baptist issues and is my go to guy for all matters evangelical. He wrote me:
Everything I hear about KH comes from you. I never hear his case or any news through the regular outlets that I follow. I see nothing on any social media that touches on SBC stuff and people.
We evangelicals are always on the lookout for martyrs but KH hasn’t generated much interest as such. It just looks like as case of not paying taxes. I pay mine, with appropriate grumbling.
That may well change as the steam builds up. I would not rule out some prominent politicians attaching themselves to the Hovindication movement. When Ed and Elaine Brown fortified their home in New Hampshire demanding that they be shown the law that required them to pay taxes, Ron Paul compared them to Gandhi and Martin Luther King. You will hear Ted Cruz’s named floated if you listen to enough Hovind material, but I don’t think he has risen to the bait.
The Defense
Ernie Land shared a copy of the letter that will soon be going to Eric Holder and will be posted soon to Kent’s site 2 Peter 3. It appears from the letter that for now they will be doubling down on a “sovereign citizen” style of defense. Here is a brief excerpt:
Affiant does not support the federal international bankruptcy declared legislatively by HJR-192, passed by Congress in 1933 and declared judicially by the United States Supreme Court in Erie Railway v. Tompkins 1939. Affiant does not support the federal 51 shadow States that have taken over the de jure state functions since the 1930’s. Affiant does not reside in, nor has been a citizen or resident of, the federal shadow State of FLORIDA, Affiant does not live in the federal territory of the Central District of FLORIDA, a federal area created out of thin air by the Buck Act and other legislation that has usurped power and authority from de jure Government.
Ernie indicated to me that he is pessimistic about raising enough money to put on a conventional defense.
Emord and Associates in Virginia, the only Attorney I know credited with beating the FTC and FDA in the supreme court, both on multiple occasions is the only premier Attorney I know and feel that could win for Kent. They want $100k to start. I spoke to another premier Attorney renowned for beating the IRS and he wants $150k. Kent is known world wide, but I’m not convinced we could even approach raising that kind of funding.
How Will It Be In Pensacola Next Month?
I asked Ernie if he thought this could turn into a situation similar to that of Cliven Bundy
I am deeply concerned the trial day could bring in that kind of movement and mix it up with the many more peaceful Christian supporters. This is not rural America. It is downtown Pensacola, Florida and if that does occur it could get ugly quick, and a lot of more peaceful people would end up in a situation that would not be very good. I support the patriots who helped Bundy, and under those circumstances it went well. I believe because the patriots was overwhelming in numbers and well armed from a position of superiority the retreat of the Government is just short term. The thought of 1 gun shot that day would have created massive bloodshed for both sides, so it is a miracle of God that didn’t happen.
It is Florida where people have the right to carry and stand their ground, but Kent is in custody, so let’s hope nobody gets it int their head to bust him loose.
There Is More
I have saved my analysis of Kent’s arguments for tomorrow’s post. So stay tuned.