Aryan Nations Civil Trial Begins

C O E U R  D’A L E N E, Idaho, Aug. 29 -- Opening arguments began today in atrial that could force the white supremacist Aryan Nations to payfor the actions of Aryan security guards accused of shooting at amother and her son.

Victoria Keenan and her son Jason Keenan are seeking damagesfrom Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler, his former chief ofstaff and three former security guards. The guards are accused ofshooting at and assaulting the Keenans near the sect’s northern Idahoheadquarters in 1998.

Morris Dees, whose Southern Poverty Law Center is representingthe Keenans, told the jury today that the case is not aboutattacking the beliefs of the Aryan Nations, but about what theguards did and who directed them to do it.

Jurors were seated Monday in the civil trial, which could lastmore than a week. If the jury finds for the Keenans and awardspunitive damages, they could go after the Aryan Nations’ assets,which consist mainly of the compound outside Hayden Lake a fewmiles north of Coeur d’Alene.

Terrorized by GuardsButler, 82, argues that Edward Jesse Warfield, John Yeager andShane Wright acted on their own. But Dees said the evidence willshow Butler himself ordered the attack.

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Lawyers representing the Keenans, Butler and his former chief ofstaff, Michael Teague, hinted at their cases in questions asked ofpotential jurors Monday before 1st District Judge Charles W.Hosack.

Dees, who has won multi-million-dollar lawsuits against factionsof the Ku Klux Klan and the White Aryan Resistance, has said hehopes to bankrupt Butler’s Aryan Nations.

The Keenans, who are part white and part American Indian,contend in their lawsuit that they were chased for more than twomiles by Aryan security guards who fired assault rifles, forcedthem into a ditch and roughed them up.

“My client, Victoria Keenan and her son, Jason brought thiscase,” plaintiffs’ lawyer Ken Howard said, asking potential jurorsif they had “any difficulties that people who are shot at —terrorized — shouldn’t bring lawsuits?”