The trial has become something of a test of what happens when certain far-out strains of digital-age American radicalism collide with the criminal justice system.
OK, so this isn't an insanity defense, it's them arguing that the specific charges don't apply. The charges require an intent to target officials specifically for their role in government, and they argue he was targeting them because he believed they were involved in a conspiracy. So it's not the equivalent of an insanity plea, it's the equivalent of arguing that you shouldn't be charged with murder because you didn’t intend to kill someone, which would mean you should be charged with manslaughter instead.
It's still bullshit because the "conspiracy" would be one involving actions taken as a government official.
OK, so this isn't an insanity defense, it's them arguing that the specific charges don't apply. The charges require an intent to target officials specifically for their role in government, and they argue he was targeting them because he believed they were involved in a conspiracy. So it's not the equivalent of an insanity plea, it's the equivalent of arguing that you shouldn't be charged with murder because you didn’t intend to kill someone, which would mean you should be charged with manslaughter instead.
It's still bullshit because the "conspiracy" would be one involving actions taken as a government official.