James Kopp, his Critics and his Admirers

After the Killing and Before the Confession

As soon as James Kopp was known to be the main suspect in the killing of Dr. Slepian, the antiabortion propaganda factory began to churn out elaborate scenarios to prove their guy was being framed.

Malvasi and Marra: Kopp's Allies

Many "moderate" antis claim that the most violent acts of antiabortion extremists are the work of isolated individuals. Now we get a clearer look at the support network for prolife assassins.

On March 29, 2001, French police arrested American fugitive James Kopp. That same day, the FBI arrested Dennis Malvasi and Loretta Marra. The couple had sent Kopp money and was planning to hide him out in their New York City apartment.

• Straight Shooters  January 24, 2001 - In this article, Dennis Malvasi says "My favorite [slogan] is, 'violence never solves anything.' Of course it does. It solves all kinds of problems. And good and just men have used it as a tool throughout history."

• Who Is Loretta (Marra) Malvasi?  A sentimental fan website with no details of the charges against her.

• Who Is Dennis Malvasi?  Apparently he's just some kind of mellow guy, held in jail and unable to see the children he dotes on. Not a word about the charges, nor about previous convictions and jail time.

• Plea Deal Rejected  August 22, 2002 - Federal Judge Arcara rejected the plea deal for Dennis Malvasi and Loretta Marra, who are accused of helping James Kopp, charged in the murder of Dr. Barnett Slepian.

• James Kopp's Website  Links to the Life Dynamics report and several similar essays on Kopp's innocence. The site solicits donations to a defense fund, run by American Anti-Persecution League (A.A.P.L.), advising that donations are tax deductible.

• Accused Killer Part of Anti-Abortion Underground  March 30, 2001 - "Those who advocate the murder of abortion doctors are labeled as kooks, zealots, extremists, and fringe characters. Some may be, but there is a 20-year record of arson, bombings and murder, as well as calls for a violent, theocratic revolution."

• The Case of the Kopp Connections  The Canadian group, Prochoice Action Network, explores connections between James Kopp and Canadian antichoice activists.

The Kopp-is-being-Framed Contingent

In the light of James Kopp's confession, the following links are shown up as self-serving rightwing drivel.

• Is the FBI Framing a Fugitive?  August 15, 2002 - He couldn't be the guy, after all he's nonviolent and has founded a Crisis Pregnancy Center. The article also engages in detailed quibbles about the physical evidence.

• The United States of America vs. James Charles Kopp: A Conclusion in Search of its Evidence  Kopp's supporters at Life Dynamics Inc. lay out a set of arguments that purports to prove he was framed.

• Kopp arrest used to smear pro-lifers: Extremists featured and responsible voices ignored  April, 2002 - The liberal media are against the prolife cause, so they play up the violence angle.

  WorldNet Daily Series on James Kopp

  Abortion politics meet law enforcement  May 6, 2002 - Suggests that the FBI imposed an antiabortion political agenda on the murder investigation.

  Presumed Guilty  May 7, 2002 - His antiabortion colleagues describe James Kopp: He wears thick glasses and is "as blind as a bat." "He is a gentle, gentle person." "He is totally non-violent in his thinking." "We thought of him like a priest."

  Leftists involved in abortionist's death?  May 8, 2002 - "From a purely political perspective, the pro-choice side had a much greater motive to kill Slepian than did the pro-life side."

  Slepian softens before his death  May 9, 2002 - Various antiabortion protesters claim that Dr. Slepian sought them out and expressed interest in being "saved."

  Jumbled dates, planted evidence?  May 10, 2002 - Author Cashill purports to uncover inconsistencies between FBI documents and local police records.

  Smoking gun in abortion-doc killing?  May 11, 2002 - Working from newspaper accounts of evidence gathered by the FBI and other police agencies, Jack Cashill points to inconsistencies.

  An Alibi Falls Apart

  Why did Kopp flee U.S.?  May 12, 2002 - Kopp claimed that his extremist comrade Maruice Lewis had been killed by Canadian authorities. Fearing he would meet the same fate, Kopp fled to Mexico, then to Europe.

  The Question Left Hanging  December 2002 - Kopp's confession demolishes one of his more bizarre alibis. Ontario Provincial Police reveal that Maurice Lewis died of "accidental asphyxiation." Apparently an autoerotic ritual went wrong, leaving Lewis dead.

A friend of Barnet Slepian has written a response to the May 9 article claiming that Dr. Slepian was beginning to "soften" and to convert to the antiabortion point of view.

James Kopp Confesses

From October 23, 1998, the day that Dr. Slepian was murdered until November 18, 2002, the day that James Kopp confessed to the crime, the prolife propaganda machine cranked out bales of conspiracy theory style "evidence" that supposedly would show Kopp not to be guilty of the crime. Now he has confessed. Says Kopp: 'I did it, and I'm admitting it. But I never, ever intended for Dr. Slepian to die.'

• Kopp's confession  November 21, 2002 - "A trial that should center on murder, not abortion."

• Pro-Life Leaders Shocked And Saddened At Kopp Guilt In Abortionist Shooting  Among the prolife groups reporting their disapproval of Kopp's actions: Joe Scheidler, President of the Pro-Life Action League, American Life League, Campaign Life Coalition British Columbia, Campaign Life Coalition Canada.

• James Kopp Became What He Abhorred  "James Kopp's cold-blooded murder of abortionist Bart Slepian was and is an act of grave betrayal. Mr. Kopp has betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Christ, and the pro-life cause." This statement from the Director of Rescue Rochester. Read further denunciations of Kopp on the Press Releases page of Operation Save America.

• Fenced in by a friend worse than foe  November 23, 2002 - At the same time he was cultivating with his supporters the image of a peaceful, religious man, Kopp was acquiring the weapon he would use to kill Dr. Slepian.

• Kopp Lays Groundwork to Justify Murdering Slepian  November 25, 2002 - Kopp's confession to reporters is the first step in a changed defense strategy: claiming that the assassination was a "justifiable homicide." Proviolence antiabortion groups to demonstrate outside the courthouse at Kopp's February trial.

• Obviously Kopp Wasn't Listening  November 22, 2002 - Troy Newman of Operation Rescue denounces his former follower, James Kopp. "Obviously Kopp wasn't listening during his tenure with Operation Rescue. The first and most basic element of culpability taught at Operation Rescue is our common guilt."

• Who could end up with more innocent blood on their hands - Bernard Slepian, or James Kopp?  November 22, 2002 - "Kopp is misrepresenting the Lord Jesus Christ so severely so that the blood of countless thousands today and in the future could be on his hands when pro-abortion fanatics and other God-haters attempt to use Kopp as an excuse for ignoring the Gospel of Christ."

• Rev. Paul Schenck Statement in Response to James Kopp's Admission to the Buffalo News That He Killed Dr. Barnett Slepian  November 21, 2002 - "James Kopp has admitted to being a cold blooded killer, a vigilante who acted as judge, jury and executioner. In what he did, he undermined the whole moral philosophy of the pro-life movement, which views every human life as intrinsically valuable and created in God's image. He should fade into ignominy after being utterly rejected by all people of conscience. May God have mercy on his soul."

• James Kopp Betrays the Pro-Life Movement, Unborn Children, and The Lord He Proclaims to Serve  November 20, 2002 - Statement by Flip Benham, Director of Operation Save America.

• Kopp's confession 'shocks' pro-lifers  November 27, 2002 - Traces the developing split among prolifers following James Kopp's confession to newspaper reporters.

Related links on James Kopp, his friends, his crimes

• The Extremists Continue to Support James Kopp  Undaunted by Kopp's confession, his extremist buddies continue their campaign to prove he's been framed.

• The Murder of Dr. Barnett Slepian  More about how the antis justified the murder of Dr. Slepian.

• James Kopp sentenced  News accounts and commentaries on Kopp being sentenced to 25 years to life.