In a heated pre-trial hearing before the Eastern District of Virginia today, federal Judge Leonie Brinkema postponed the criminal contempt trial of admitted terrorist-supporter Sami Al-Arian until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a separate appeal. The appeal, filed July 30, challenges the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that Al-Arian's 2006 plea agreement did not grant him the right to refuse to testify before a grand jury investigating terror financing by a Virginia-based think tank.
Al-Arian was charged in 2003 with conspiring to provide material support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a designated terrorist group. Jurors acquitted Al-Arian on eight of the 17 counts against him but deadlocked on the others, including racketeering and conspiracy. In April 2006, Al-Arian agreed to plead guilty to one of those hung counts – conspiracy to provide goods and services to a terrorist group.
Al-Arian has argued that his plea agreement ruled out any cooperation with the government and has repeatedly refused to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the International Institute of Islamic Thought despite a grant of immunity and repeated court orders. That led to a two-count criminal contempt indictment in June. Read more ...
Al-Arian was charged in 2003 with conspiring to provide material support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a designated terrorist group. Jurors acquitted Al-Arian on eight of the 17 counts against him but deadlocked on the others, including racketeering and conspiracy. In April 2006, Al-Arian agreed to plead guilty to one of those hung counts – conspiracy to provide goods and services to a terrorist group.
Al-Arian has argued that his plea agreement ruled out any cooperation with the government and has repeatedly refused to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the International Institute of Islamic Thought despite a grant of immunity and repeated court orders. That led to a two-count criminal contempt indictment in June. Read more ...
Source: IPT News
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