To hear Sami Al-Arian and his defense attorneys tell it, his 2006 plea negotiations with federal prosecutors hinged on one overarching issue - his desire to "end all of the Department of Justice's dealings" with him. In their view, subpoenas compelling his testimony before a Virginia grand jury investigating terror financing after entering his plea violate that wish.
His attorneys have moved to dismiss a June 2008 indictment for criminal contempt, saying "the uncontroverted evidence" shows the government made such a promise and has reneged on it.
"Uncontroverted" seems to mean "because they say so." There is no reference to such a pledge in the plea agreement, during the April 2006 hearing in which the guilty plea was accepted, or during his sentencing. At both hearings, the presiding judges asked whether the government made any other inducements to secure the plea. Neither Al-Arian nor his attorneys mentioned the issue that now is described as the most vital element.
In the plea, Al-Arian admitted he conspired to provide goods and services to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad after the group was designated a foreign terrorist organization. IPT News
His attorneys have moved to dismiss a June 2008 indictment for criminal contempt, saying "the uncontroverted evidence" shows the government made such a promise and has reneged on it.
"Uncontroverted" seems to mean "because they say so." There is no reference to such a pledge in the plea agreement, during the April 2006 hearing in which the guilty plea was accepted, or during his sentencing. At both hearings, the presiding judges asked whether the government made any other inducements to secure the plea. Neither Al-Arian nor his attorneys mentioned the issue that now is described as the most vital element.
In the plea, Al-Arian admitted he conspired to provide goods and services to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad after the group was designated a foreign terrorist organization. IPT News
Source: IPT News