A federal prosecutor is challenging a judge's order to provide internal, behind-the-scenes communication by the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney's offices regarding a 2006 guilty plea by Sami Al-Arian. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled Feb. 5 that prosecutors need to disclose information about their strategy during negotiations with Al-Arian's attorneys. Al-Arian pleaded guilty to providing goods and services to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Brinkema said she needs to review the material before deciding whether Al-Arian can fight criminal contempt charges by saying he merely followed the advice of counsel. Al-Arian has repeatedly defied subpoenas to testify before a northern Virginia grand jury investigating terror financing by a group with which he previously worked. He insists terms in his guilty plea absolve him of ever providing any information to the government, be it voluntary or compelled.
His trial is scheduled for March 9. The information the judge seeks is already in the record, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg argued in a motion filed Feb. 11. In addition, the material Brinkema wants is privileged. Read more ...
Brinkema said she needs to review the material before deciding whether Al-Arian can fight criminal contempt charges by saying he merely followed the advice of counsel. Al-Arian has repeatedly defied subpoenas to testify before a northern Virginia grand jury investigating terror financing by a group with which he previously worked. He insists terms in his guilty plea absolve him of ever providing any information to the government, be it voluntary or compelled.
His trial is scheduled for March 9. The information the judge seeks is already in the record, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg argued in a motion filed Feb. 11. In addition, the material Brinkema wants is privileged. Read more ...
Source: IPT News
Posts
