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Home Front
Moussaoui the Mope Loses Right to Represent Self
2003-11-15
EFL
ALXEANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A federal judge Friday revoked the right of al-Qaida defendant Zacarias Moussaoui to represent himself in the only U.S. case arising from the Sept. 11 attacks. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said Moussaoui’s latest motions "include contemptuous language that would never be tolerated from an attorney and will no longer be tolerated from this defendant."
What took you so long, Leonie?
The judge had warned Moussaoui last week that she would revoke his self-representation if he filed "further frivolous, scandalous, disrespectful or repetitive pleadings" or violated any court orders. She has repeatedly told him not to try to use his motions to contact al-Qaida sympathizers from his isolated quarters in the Alexandria Detention Center.

While Brinkema did not publicly release the two Moussaoui motions that led to her order, the last filing she did make public, dated Oct. 27, was typical of the French citizen’s rhetoric. Moussaoui said he wants "anthrax for Jew sympathiser only," called Attorney General John Ashcroft "the Democratic Jerk" and referred to Brinkema as "Leonie you Despotically Judge."
al-Q boys probably think he’s gone soft in prison. He can’t even insult Ashcroft properly!
Moussaoui, an acknowledged Osama bin Laden loyalist, is charged with participating in a broad conspiracy with the Sept. 11 hijackers to commit terrorism against the United States.

Brinkema named Moussaoui’s court-appointed defense team to represent him. While he has refused to cooperate with the experienced lawyers, the attorneys have been filing their own pointless and time-wasting motions on his behalf. Frank Dunham Jr., a Moussaoui defense lawyer and a federal public defender, said, "It was a front page story when he fired us, but it’s not a front page story that the court fired him."
Though it would be a front page story if he boiled and ate you. Count your blessings.
Another of the defense lawyers, Edward MacMahon Jr., said, "I would think any defendant would benefit from competent counsel as opposed to trying to represent himself in a capital case." He said Moussaoui’s refusal to cooperate "is certainly not an optimal situation. It would be a lot better if we had a client who wasn’t barking mad could cooperate, but apparently, that’s not the way it’s going to be."

The Justice Department had no comment.
Paraphrasing the old Chinese proverb, never stop your enemy from destroying himself.
From now on, Brinkema said Friday, she will accept only pleadings submitted by the lawyers, while any motion submitted by Moussaoui "will simply be received for archival purposes." She said Moussaoui had 10 days to file a written notice of appeal.
Pass the popcorn, Fred, I’m ready for the second feature.
The last straw for Brinkema apparently was a pair of recent motions. One requested a classified congressional report concerning Sept. 11 and the other asked for reconsideration of the judge’s order imposing penalties on the government. The two pleadings "ask for relief after the court made clear that all action in his case was stayed" (postponed) pending an appeal by the government, which is trying to block Moussaoui’s access to three al-Qaida witnesses.
Thus missing the point of his motions. It’s Islamist theater, not law.
Posted by:Steve White

#3  This guy is nuts. Is nurse Ratchett still alive?
Posted by: Shipman   2003-11-15 5:18:11 PM  

#2  Editted (or Excerpted) For Length
Posted by: rkb   2003-11-15 8:03:26 AM  

#1  Sorry to be off topic but I see EFL at the top of rantburg articles alot....what does it mean?
Posted by: new to this bloging thing   2003-11-15 7:42:16 AM  

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