UPDATE: Lawyer says hate group member’s comments on planned Richmond attack protected by Constitution

A white supremacist laughed to himself in federal court as prosecutors read aloud a transcript that included his plans to kill civilians and officers at a Virginia gun rally.

One federal attorney called the case against Patrik Mathews, 27, a domestic terrorism investigation based on remarks he made days before the Capital Square demonstrations that Mathews hoped would spark a civil war. An attorney for Mathews said his client’s statements of poisoning water supplies and killing people were protected under the First Amendment.

Mathews and two other members of the hate group called The Base will have a preliminary hearing next week.