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| FBI: Terror Thwarted Despite Axed Charges |
| 2004-09-10 |
| EFL of an AP article run by Newsmax. "You should be proud of the excellent investigative work conducted by the JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force) in Detroit, and everyone should recognize that their efforts may have prevented another attack," Special Agent in Charge Daniel Roberts wrote last week in an e-mail to his entire office. The e-mail was obtained by The Associated Press. Roberts sent his memo the same day the Justice Department asked a federal judge to dismiss convictions on terrorism counts against Karim Koubriti and other men accused of operating a terror cell in Detroit. The government sought a retrial on lesser fraud charges. ... Justice's court filing questioned the accuracy of trial testimony by FBI agents. Roberts on the other hand said the agents "acted aggressively and worked very hard on this case in an effort to prevent a terrorist attack." FBI officials said Roberts was referring to evidence from Turkish authorities that al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden called off an attack on a Turkish air base used by U.S. forces because security was heightened. Security was raised after sketches of the air base were found in the Detroit men's apartment in September 2001. Roberts described Justice's turnabout as "strictly a legal decision" necessitated by prosecutors' failure to turn over certain documents to defense lawyers during trial. A lawyer for one defendant expressed surprise Tuesday at the FBI e-mail. "It shocks me that anyone who has seen the government's memo on this case would still think these men are terrorists," said James Gerometta, a public defender who represented Koubriti. The lawyer for former lead prosecutor Rick Convertino, who was harshly criticized in the Justice report, said Tuesday the FBI e-mail supports his client's position. "Consistent with the FBI e-mail, Rick has always believed in the propriety of this case, and nothing in the government's memorandum has changed his viewpoint," attorney William Sullivan said. |
| Posted by:Super Hose |