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| Jurors Convict Abu Ghaith, Bin Laden Son-in-Law, in Terror Case | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than a dozen years after the Sept. 11 attacks, a man who came to speak for Osama bin Laden in a series of impassioned videotaped messages that praised the attacks and promised more, was convicted by a federal jury on Wednesday of conspiring to kill Americans and of other terrorism charges. | More than a dozen years after the Sept. 11 attacks, a man who came to speak for Osama bin Laden in a series of impassioned videotaped messages that praised the attacks and promised more, was convicted by a federal jury on Wednesday of conspiring to kill Americans and of other terrorism charges. |
| The defendant, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, was the most senior Bin Laden confederate to be tried in a civilian court in the United States since Sept. 11, and his swift conviction on all counts would seem to serve as a rejoinder to critics of the Obama administration’s efforts to try suspected terrorists in civilian courts, rather than before a military tribunal. | The defendant, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, was the most senior Bin Laden confederate to be tried in a civilian court in the United States since Sept. 11, and his swift conviction on all counts would seem to serve as a rejoinder to critics of the Obama administration’s efforts to try suspected terrorists in civilian courts, rather than before a military tribunal. |
| “It was appropriate that this defendant, who publicly rejoiced over the attacks on the World Trade Center, faced trial in the shadow of where those buildings once stood,” the United States attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., said in a statement. | “It was appropriate that this defendant, who publicly rejoiced over the attacks on the World Trade Center, faced trial in the shadow of where those buildings once stood,” the United States attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., said in a statement. |
| Citing the success of the civilian courts in “hundreds of other cases involving terrorism defendants,” he added, “it would be a good thing for the country if this case has the result of putting that political debate to rest.” | Citing the success of the civilian courts in “hundreds of other cases involving terrorism defendants,” he added, “it would be a good thing for the country if this case has the result of putting that political debate to rest.” |
| The verdict, returned after six hours of deliberations, comes a little more than a year after Mr. Abu Ghaith, a son-in-law of Bin Laden, was turned over to United States authorities in Jordan and flown to New York to face charges. The trial lasted three weeks. | The verdict, returned after six hours of deliberations, comes a little more than a year after Mr. Abu Ghaith, a son-in-law of Bin Laden, was turned over to United States authorities in Jordan and flown to New York to face charges. The trial lasted three weeks. |
| The decision to prosecute Mr. Abu Ghaith in federal court reignited the debate over whether international terrorists should be placed in military custody and sent to the United States naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. | The decision to prosecute Mr. Abu Ghaith in federal court reignited the debate over whether international terrorists should be placed in military custody and sent to the United States naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. |
| Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who sharply criticized that decision, said that while he was pleased with the verdict, he still believed Mr. Abu Ghaith should have been held by the military “as an enemy combatant for intelligence gathering purposes.” | Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who sharply criticized that decision, said that while he was pleased with the verdict, he still believed Mr. Abu Ghaith should have been held by the military “as an enemy combatant for intelligence gathering purposes.” |
| Nonetheless, the successful prosecution of Mr. Abu Ghaith could further smooth the way for the Justice Department to pursue the cases of other suspected terrorists in federal court if they are captured; for example, Ayman al-Zawahri, the current leader of Al Qaeda, remains under indictment in Manhattan. | Nonetheless, the successful prosecution of Mr. Abu Ghaith could further smooth the way for the Justice Department to pursue the cases of other suspected terrorists in federal court if they are captured; for example, Ayman al-Zawahri, the current leader of Al Qaeda, remains under indictment in Manhattan. |
| Mr. Abu Ghaith, a 48-year-old Kuwaiti-born cleric known for his fiery oratory, was so trusted by Bin Laden that on the night of Sept. 11, the Qaeda leader invited him to his remote Afghan cave. | Mr. Abu Ghaith, a 48-year-old Kuwaiti-born cleric known for his fiery oratory, was so trusted by Bin Laden that on the night of Sept. 11, the Qaeda leader invited him to his remote Afghan cave. |
| “He said, ‘Come in, sit down.’ He said, ‘Did you learn about what happened?’ ” Mr. Abu Ghaith testified at the trial. “He said, ‘We are the ones who did it.’ ” | “He said, ‘Come in, sit down.’ He said, ‘Did you learn about what happened?’ ” Mr. Abu Ghaith testified at the trial. “He said, ‘We are the ones who did it.’ ” |
| The next day, at Bin Laden’s request, Mr. Abu Ghaith issued the first of a series of videotaped statements that helped Bin Laden spread his global message of terror, energize Qaeda fighters and recruit new ones, prosecutors told the jury. | The next day, at Bin Laden’s request, Mr. Abu Ghaith issued the first of a series of videotaped statements that helped Bin Laden spread his global message of terror, energize Qaeda fighters and recruit new ones, prosecutors told the jury. |
| Mr. Abu Ghaith has not been accused of having a role in the plot to attack the World Trade Center or of knowing about it. But when asked by a prosecutor if he “knew something big was coming from Al Qaeda,” he responded, “Yes.” | Mr. Abu Ghaith has not been accused of having a role in the plot to attack the World Trade Center or of knowing about it. But when asked by a prosecutor if he “knew something big was coming from Al Qaeda,” he responded, “Yes.” |
| He was convicted on three counts: conspiracy to kill Americans, for which he could face life in prison; and providing material support to terrorists and conspiring to do so; each of those counts carries a maximum term of 15 years. The judge, Lewis A. Kaplan, said the defendant would be sentenced on Sept. 8. | He was convicted on three counts: conspiracy to kill Americans, for which he could face life in prison; and providing material support to terrorists and conspiring to do so; each of those counts carries a maximum term of 15 years. The judge, Lewis A. Kaplan, said the defendant would be sentenced on Sept. 8. |
| Mr. Abu Ghaith, who used an Arabic interpreter in Federal District Court in Manhattan, appeared impassive as the judge’s deputy clerk, Andrew Mohan, read the verdict aloud, repeating “guilty” three times. | Mr. Abu Ghaith, who used an Arabic interpreter in Federal District Court in Manhattan, appeared impassive as the judge’s deputy clerk, Andrew Mohan, read the verdict aloud, repeating “guilty” three times. |
| Mr. Abu Ghaith’s lead lawyer, Stanley L. Cohen, said later that his client was stoic and “at ease.” | Mr. Abu Ghaith’s lead lawyer, Stanley L. Cohen, said later that his client was stoic and “at ease.” |
| “He has confidence that this is not the end but the beginning,” Mr. Cohen said, adding that there were “a number of compelling issues” for appeal. | “He has confidence that this is not the end but the beginning,” Mr. Cohen said, adding that there were “a number of compelling issues” for appeal. |
| Crucial among them, Mr. Cohen said, was the judge’s refusal to allow the defense to introduce testimony from Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described architect of the Sept. 11 attacks who is detained at Guantánamo Bay. Mr. Cohen had argued that Mr. Mohammed, with his unsurpassed knowledge of Qaeda operations, could help exculpate his client. | Crucial among them, Mr. Cohen said, was the judge’s refusal to allow the defense to introduce testimony from Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described architect of the Sept. 11 attacks who is detained at Guantánamo Bay. Mr. Cohen had argued that Mr. Mohammed, with his unsurpassed knowledge of Qaeda operations, could help exculpate his client. |
| Mr. Cohen also said the prosecution had “gone out of its way to exploit the anguish and pain of 9/11 to fill an enormous evidentiary vacuum,” making it “literally impossible for a jury of New Yorkers to look objectively” at the case. | Mr. Cohen also said the prosecution had “gone out of its way to exploit the anguish and pain of 9/11 to fill an enormous evidentiary vacuum,” making it “literally impossible for a jury of New Yorkers to look objectively” at the case. |
| The prosecution team of John P. Cronan, Michael Ferrara and Nicholas J. Lewin told the jury there was overwhelming evidence that Mr. Abu Ghaith had participated in a conspiracy to kill Americans and had provided support to terrorists. | The prosecution team of John P. Cronan, Michael Ferrara and Nicholas J. Lewin told the jury there was overwhelming evidence that Mr. Abu Ghaith had participated in a conspiracy to kill Americans and had provided support to terrorists. |
| They cited the videos he had made for Bin Laden, in which he praised the Sept. 11 attacks and warned repeatedly that the “storm of airplanes” would not abate, a clear reference, they said, to future attacks. | They cited the videos he had made for Bin Laden, in which he praised the Sept. 11 attacks and warned repeatedly that the “storm of airplanes” would not abate, a clear reference, they said, to future attacks. |
| In one video, Mr. Abu Ghaith warned Muslims in the United States and Britain “not to board aircraft” and “not to live in high rises.” | In one video, Mr. Abu Ghaith warned Muslims in the United States and Britain “not to board aircraft” and “not to live in high rises.” |
| In another, he attributed the Sept. 11 attacks to the United States’ policies toward Muslims. “The American people must know that they bear full responsibility,” he declared. | In another, he attributed the Sept. 11 attacks to the United States’ policies toward Muslims. “The American people must know that they bear full responsibility,” he declared. |
| The prosecution roundly rejected Mr. Cohen’s argument that Mr. Abu Ghaith had not always been speaking for Al Qaeda on the videos, and his suggestion that his client was an Islamic theologian, speaking for Muslims more broadly. | The prosecution roundly rejected Mr. Cohen’s argument that Mr. Abu Ghaith had not always been speaking for Al Qaeda on the videos, and his suggestion that his client was an Islamic theologian, speaking for Muslims more broadly. |
| “This man twisted and manipulated that religion beyond all recognition,” Mr. Ferrara said in the government’s rebuttal, “and he did so in the service of motivating young men to kill Americans.” | “This man twisted and manipulated that religion beyond all recognition,” Mr. Ferrara said in the government’s rebuttal, “and he did so in the service of motivating young men to kill Americans.” |
| The prosecutors also cited Mr. Abu Ghaith’s interrogation by an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a deputy United States marshal as he was flown to New York in early 2013, and his admissions in court when he unexpectedly testified. | The prosecutors also cited Mr. Abu Ghaith’s interrogation by an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a deputy United States marshal as he was flown to New York in early 2013, and his admissions in court when he unexpectedly testified. |
| It was in that testimony that he described being summoned by Bin Laden on the night of Sept. 11 for his opinion on how the United States would respond. | It was in that testimony that he described being summoned by Bin Laden on the night of Sept. 11 for his opinion on how the United States would respond. |
| They met again the next day, Mr. Abu Ghaith testified, and he agreed to Bin Laden’s request that he help spread the Qaeda leader’s message to the world. | They met again the next day, Mr. Abu Ghaith testified, and he agreed to Bin Laden’s request that he help spread the Qaeda leader’s message to the world. |
| That day, Mr. Abu Ghaith appeared in a widely disseminated video, which was shown to the jury, with Bin Laden; Mr. al-Zawahri, then his deputy; and a military commander. | That day, Mr. Abu Ghaith appeared in a widely disseminated video, which was shown to the jury, with Bin Laden; Mr. al-Zawahri, then his deputy; and a military commander. |
| “In the days and months after Sept. 11, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith literally sat at Osama bin Laden’s right hand,” Mr. Cronan told the jury. | “In the days and months after Sept. 11, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith literally sat at Osama bin Laden’s right hand,” Mr. Cronan told the jury. |
| Before being brought to the United States, Mr. Abu Ghaith said, he was imprisoned for about a decade in Iran, where, around 2008, he married Bin Laden’s daughter, Fatima — a fact that was not disclosed to the anonymous jury of nine women and three men. | Before being brought to the United States, Mr. Abu Ghaith said, he was imprisoned for about a decade in Iran, where, around 2008, he married Bin Laden’s daughter, Fatima — a fact that was not disclosed to the anonymous jury of nine women and three men. |
| Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, said, “Like the others who have faced terrorism charges in Manhattan’s federal courthouse before him, Abu Ghaith received a fair trial, after which a unanimous jury rendered its verdict, justly holding him accountable for his crimes.” | Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, said, “Like the others who have faced terrorism charges in Manhattan’s federal courthouse before him, Abu Ghaith received a fair trial, after which a unanimous jury rendered its verdict, justly holding him accountable for his crimes.” |
| “We hope this verdict brings some small measure of comfort to the families of the victims of Al Qaeda’s murderous designs,” Mr. Bharara added. | “We hope this verdict brings some small measure of comfort to the families of the victims of Al Qaeda’s murderous designs,” Mr. Bharara added. |