North Dakota Man Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter After Hitting Teen He Feared Was Linked To ‘Republican Extremist Group’

A 42-year-old North Dakota man pled guilty to manslaughter after he hit an 18-year-old with his car following his expression of concern about the teen being connected to a “Republican extremist” group.

Shannon Brandt pled guilty to manslaughter after Cayler Ellingson was killed when he was hit by Brandt’s vehicle in September 2022. The guilty plea comes just weeks after the charges were reduced from murder to manslaughter.

The case quickly became controversial after an affidavit from police suggested that Brandt had run down Ellingson following a political disagreement, a claim that was backtracked by later investigators. Ellingson’s death was determined to be an accident, and not intentional according to investigators.

Foster County State Attorney Kara Brinster said that Brandt had been drinking and arguing with Ellingson prior to the incident.

Brandt, of Glenfield, North Dakota, claimed in a 911 call that he had felt threatened by Ellingson, over the teen’s alleged connection to a “Republican extremist group,” and was urging others to attack Brandt after a political argument, according to the call.

“He was threatening me with something to have to do with — something with an extremist Republican group. And then he made a phone call. He made a phone call saying, ‘I thought he was Republican (background noise) or something. You’re going have to come here and handle him.’ I got scared to death. I didn’t know what to do,” a transcript of Brandt’s 911 call says.

Brandt said that he accidentally hit the teen when he was trying to get away from him during a crowded event in McHenry. “As we have pointed out since the beginning, there is no evidence to support the misplaced allegation of intentional homicide,” said Mark Friese, Brandt’s lawyer. “The state and defense forensic experts have provided comprehensive reports confirming this tragedy was an accident. Misplaced media hype and community conjecture is no substitute for evidence.”

An autopsy report said that Ellingson’s fatal “injuries weren’t caused from being struck by Shannon Brandt’s vehicle and were caused by being run over” once he was on the ground.

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Police said that Brandt appeared to be intoxicated when they showed up at his home after the accident.

When sentenced, he could face 10 years in prison. An additional charge of leaving the scene of the accident was also dropped before Brandt was set to be tried on May 30.

“Shannon has never denied responsibility for his part in this tragic accident,” Friese told The Forum. “A plea of guilty permits him to accept responsibility while limiting the stress and emotional toll for all involved.”

Friday Afternoon Update: Legal Fight Over Nashville Shooter Manifesto Continues, Deutsche Bank Pays Millions To Alleged Epstein Victim, Indiana Jones Is Back

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click here.

Legal Fight Over Nashville Shooter Manifesto Continues

Republican Tennessee lawmakers want the Covenant school shooter’s writings, medical records, and toxicology reports to be made public. The lawmakers signed a letter this week saying they cannot pass gun reform put forward by Governor Bill Lee until they have all the facts. Officials at Covenant School have taken action to keep some of the documents private. A judge is expected to rule on whether or not to release the “manifesto” in June.

Deutsche Bank Pays Millions To Alleged Epstein Victim

Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $75 million to settle a class action lawsuit filed by an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein. The female listed as “Jane Doe” in court papers said she was abused by Epstein and trafficked to his friends for 15 years. She claims that the bank “enabled” Epstein to operate his alleged sex ring. The money will be used to compensate several of Epstein’s victims.

Queen Elizabeth’s Funeral Price Tag Revealed

The price tag for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral last year has been revealed in a report to Parliament. The days-long memorial, which was attended by many world leaders, cost the U.K. government £162 million. That translates to nearly $200 million.

Irish Asylum Seekers

America isn’t the only nation experiencing a mass influx of asylum-seekers. Ireland has accepted tens of thousands of refugees in recent years, and its government recently warned that the country could expect 80,000 asylees in 2023 alone. Mass protests against that plan have rocked the small country of five million. According to The Irish Examiner, the Irish Refugee Council has called for asylum-seekers to be taken off the streets in the wake of those protests. Now, the Irish government is seriously considering housing the refugees in cruise ships off the coast of Cork known as “floatels.”

Rafael Nadal Out At French Open

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the 2023 French Open. Nadal announced that he will not compete due to a hip injury he suffered in January. Nadal, a native of Spain, has dominated France’s red clay throughout his career, winning it a record 14 times.

Oscar Mayer WeinerMobile Renamed

The iconic hot dog company Oscar Mayer is renaming its classic WeinerMobile to the “FrankMobile.” The move, Kraft Heinz says, “pays homage to the brand’s 100% Beef Franks, as it debuts a tasty new recipe that is more flavorful than ever.”

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Indiana Jones Is Back

Indiana Jones is swinging back onto the big screen — this time at the Cannes film festival. 80-year-old Harrison Ford stars as Professor Jones in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” but says it will be the last time he plays the beloved character. This is the first time an Indiana Jones film will not be directed by Steven Spielberg, though he is credited as producer. “The Dial of Destiny” will be released on June 30 in the U.S. 

To listen to the audio version of this podcast, click here. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

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