Seventh Circuit Rejects Free-Speech Claim in Clinic Threat Case

A man convicted of threatening doctors and patients of a Chicago abortion clinic failed to show that the statute under which he was charged violates the First Amendment, the Seventh Circuit found Tuesday.

Farhan Sheikh posted on the iFunny social media app saying he was going to “to slaughter and murder any doctor, patient, or visitor” anyone near the Women’s Aid Center, a clinic on the Northwest Side of the city. A user who saw his posts alerted the FBI, and Sheikh was charged with transmitting a threat through interstate communications.

After being found guilty, Sheikh argued to the ...