Trump Delegate in Maryland Hit with Child Porn Charges

By - May 21, 2016
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A Maryland man who has been elected as a delegate for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has been charged with possession and creation of child pornography, as well as possession of an illegal firearm and explosives.

This week a federal grand jury indicted Caleb Bailey after an extensive investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The indictment alleges that from March 2015 until last January, the Trump delegate tried to use a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to manufacture child pornography.

The investigation started in February when Bailey shipped a box to someone in Wisconsin, but it broke open at a postal facility in Maryland, the federal criminal complaint alleges. Postal workers called in ATF agents to investigate.

Government officials found that the box contained 120 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition with incendiary projectiles. There also were 200 rounds of spotting projectiles in the box.

When the box did not arrive, Bailey used a fake name and called the post office two times to determine its whereabouts. He also gave a tracking number that matched the package, the ATF affidavit notes.

The Maryland Board of Elections states that Bailey is a District 5 delegate to the Republican National Convention in support of Trump.

The Trump campaign responded that it strongly condemns the allegations against Bailey and that the delegate will be immediately replaced.

Federal agents stated that neither Bailey nor the intended recipient of the package have a federal explosive license that allows them to manufacture or distribute explosives.

Federal authorities set up a meeting with Bailey earlier this month to discuss what was in the package, but he did not appear. On that day, search warrants were issued and executed at Bailey’s properties, and much more was found that landed Bailey in more hot water.

During the search, police also recovered guns and ammunition. On his PC, they found suspected child pornography.

Several hundred illegal guns were found in a bunker under Bailey’s house, including machine guns. The bunker was full of shelves for storing ammunition and firearms. Police also found gambling-related equipment in the home. Police stated that it was unclear how Bailey was able to obtain such a high number of weapons and ammunition, given that he does not have a license to obtain such items.

If he is convicted on the weapons charges, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, and up to 30 years for the child pornography charges.

Bailey currently is being detained pending a hearing on May 24 in US District Court in Greenbelt MD.

Bailey is the son of Collins Bailey, who was once the vice chairman of the Republican Party in Maryland.

This is not the first time that a Trump delegate has gotten in trouble this year. William Johnson was chosen as a Trump delegate in 2016, and is also a leader of the white nationalist group American Freedom Party. He noted in an interview to Mother Jones magazine that he can be a white nationalist and also a strong Trump supporter.

Johnson has said that he knows at least one other AFP member who was chosen by a state party to attend the GOP convention in July. Johnson would not identify the person, as it could compromise the person’s work with the GOP.

Johnson also said that there are other white nationalist Trump delegates who have been in contact with AFP members.

The American Freedom Party states on its site that it exists to represent the interests of people who are white and to protect the customs and heritage of people who immigrated to America from Europe. The organization is only thought to have a few thousand members, but it is one of the most important white national groups in the US.

About Child Pornography Charges

Federal child pornography charges are very serious, and are defined as any type of sexual content that involves a minor under 18. The media that is used does not matter; child pornography can be in magazines, photographs, sounds, film, Internet posts and more.

Federal statutes state that there are two major types of child pornography: simulated child pornography and pornography that is created with the child actually involved.

Despite the efforts of some defendants, child pornography is unprotected under the First Amendment. The type of federal charge that you will face will depend upon the exact situation, but the federal laws on child pornography may be found in 18 USC, section 2251, 2252, 2256, and 2260.

The child does not have to be actually depicted in any sexual acts for an image to be child porn. Any sexually suggestive photographs that include naked children under 18 are in violation of federal law.