This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/26/world/africa/questions-raised-over-trial-for-ahmed-abu-khattala-in-benghazi-case.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Questions Raised Over Trial for Ahmed Abu Khattala in Benghazi Case Questions Raised Over Trial for Ahmed Abu Khattala in Benghazi Case
(about 11 hours later)
WASHINGTON — For the past five days or so, the Libyan suspected of being the ringleader in the 2012 attacks that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, has been steaming to the United States from the Mediterranean Sea aboard a hulking Navy ship. WASHINGTON — For the past five days or so, the Libyan suspected of being the ringleader in the 2012 attacks that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, has been steaming across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States aboard a hulking Navy ship.
That ship will be close enough to Washington by early next week that federal agents will be able to shackle the Libyan, Ahmed Abu Khattala, and put him on an aircraft directly to the nation’s capital.That ship will be close enough to Washington by early next week that federal agents will be able to shackle the Libyan, Ahmed Abu Khattala, and put him on an aircraft directly to the nation’s capital.
Mr. Abu Khattala’s journey to the United States began at a seaside villa a week and a half ago when he was captured in a raid by American commandos. Mr. Abu Khattala, who is 6-foot-3 and weighs 230 pounds, tried to fight off the Americans and suffered minor injuries before he was wrestled to the ground.Mr. Abu Khattala’s journey to the United States began at a seaside villa a week and a half ago when he was captured in a raid by American commandos. Mr. Abu Khattala, who is 6-foot-3 and weighs 230 pounds, tried to fight off the Americans and suffered minor injuries before he was wrestled to the ground.
He was then taken by Navy fast boats to the New York, an amphibious landing ship in the Mediterranean, and interrogators began grilling Mr. Abu Khattala about what he knew about previous or planned attacks and the militia he helped lead in Benghazi. American officials said that he had been cooperative, although it was not clear whether he had been warned of his rights to remain silent or be represented by a lawyer.He was then taken by Navy fast boats to the New York, an amphibious landing ship in the Mediterranean, and interrogators began grilling Mr. Abu Khattala about what he knew about previous or planned attacks and the militia he helped lead in Benghazi. American officials said that he had been cooperative, although it was not clear whether he had been warned of his rights to remain silent or be represented by a lawyer.
The New York was sent to the Mediterranean expressly as part of the secret operation to snatch Mr. Abu Khattala and bring him to the United States to face trial. The trip is taking longer than expected because of minor engineering issues, but Mr. Abu Khattala will be moved to Washington before the ship gets to its home port near Jacksonville, Fla.The New York was sent to the Mediterranean expressly as part of the secret operation to snatch Mr. Abu Khattala and bring him to the United States to face trial. The trip is taking longer than expected because of minor engineering issues, but Mr. Abu Khattala will be moved to Washington before the ship gets to its home port near Jacksonville, Fla.
The ship is 684 feet long, and its 7.5-metric-ton bow stem was forged from steel from the World Trade Center towers. Its motto is “Never Forget,” and it typically carries four Osprey aircraft and two helicopters. According to two senior American officials, the military is likely to use one of the Ospreys to bring Mr. Abu Khattala to Washington. Ospreys can take off like a helicopter and then fly like a regular plane for long distances.The ship is 684 feet long, and its 7.5-metric-ton bow stem was forged from steel from the World Trade Center towers. Its motto is “Never Forget,” and it typically carries four Osprey aircraft and two helicopters. According to two senior American officials, the military is likely to use one of the Ospreys to bring Mr. Abu Khattala to Washington. Ospreys can take off like a helicopter and then fly like a regular plane for long distances.
Washington is where federal prosecutors have filed murder charges against Mr. Abu Khattala in connection with the 2012 attacks that killed the United States ambassador to Libya and three others.Washington is where federal prosecutors have filed murder charges against Mr. Abu Khattala in connection with the 2012 attacks that killed the United States ambassador to Libya and three others.
But the decision to bring him to the nation’s capital has raised questions about the logistics of holding a trial here and the experience of prosecutors to bring such a case.But the decision to bring him to the nation’s capital has raised questions about the logistics of holding a trial here and the experience of prosecutors to bring such a case.
Nearly all the high-profile terrorists tried in federal court since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have been tried in New York or Alexandria, Va., across the Potomac River from Washington. The New York courthouse is connected directly to jails where the defendants are typically held, making it far easier to transport them for court appearances.Nearly all the high-profile terrorists tried in federal court since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have been tried in New York or Alexandria, Va., across the Potomac River from Washington. The New York courthouse is connected directly to jails where the defendants are typically held, making it far easier to transport them for court appearances.
The Washington courthouse is not connected to a jail, so every time Mr. Abu Khattala has to appear in court the government will have to move him with armed guards in armored vehicles.The Washington courthouse is not connected to a jail, so every time Mr. Abu Khattala has to appear in court the government will have to move him with armed guards in armored vehicles.
The streets of Washington are often filled with the motorcades of American politicians and foreign leaders. But the daily transportation of such a suspect could create the risk of an attack or sabotage, security experts said.The streets of Washington are often filled with the motorcades of American politicians and foreign leaders. But the daily transportation of such a suspect could create the risk of an attack or sabotage, security experts said.
“On a road there is the potential for an ambush or some sort of scheme where someone could be freed,” said Raymond W. Kelly, the former New York police commissioner, who is now president of Cushman & Wakefield’s Risk Management Services division. “Common sense is that you try and cut down that risk if at all possible.”“On a road there is the potential for an ambush or some sort of scheme where someone could be freed,” said Raymond W. Kelly, the former New York police commissioner, who is now president of Cushman & Wakefield’s Risk Management Services division. “Common sense is that you try and cut down that risk if at all possible.”
The fact that a tunnel connected the New York jail and the courthouse played a role in the Obama administration’s decision to move Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and four co-conspirators to Manhattan to face trial in federal court from the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The plan to try the men in federal court was ultimately scrapped for other reasons.The fact that a tunnel connected the New York jail and the courthouse played a role in the Obama administration’s decision to move Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and four co-conspirators to Manhattan to face trial in federal court from the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The plan to try the men in federal court was ultimately scrapped for other reasons.
There are some concerns in the Justice Department that the United States attorney’s office in Washington is overseeing the high-profile and complicated Abu Khattala case, according to senior American officials. The prosecutors have handled far fewer terrorism cases than the United States attorney’s offices in New York and Alexandria. The Justice Department’s national security division will be “closely scrutinizing” how the United States attorney’s office moves forward with Mr. Abu Khattala’s prosecution, one of the officials said.There are some concerns in the Justice Department that the United States attorney’s office in Washington is overseeing the high-profile and complicated Abu Khattala case, according to senior American officials. The prosecutors have handled far fewer terrorism cases than the United States attorney’s offices in New York and Alexandria. The Justice Department’s national security division will be “closely scrutinizing” how the United States attorney’s office moves forward with Mr. Abu Khattala’s prosecution, one of the officials said.
Press officers for the Department of Justice refused to answer questions about the case. But one spokesman sent a reporter a release that called the United States attorney’s office in Washington “a national leader” in prosecutions of terrorism, espionage and national security leaks to the press.Press officers for the Department of Justice refused to answer questions about the case. But one spokesman sent a reporter a release that called the United States attorney’s office in Washington “a national leader” in prosecutions of terrorism, espionage and national security leaks to the press.
Two of those leak investigations were criticized by members of Congress who contended that prosecutors were too aggressive in obtaining journalists’ records. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. ultimately established new guidelines that significantly narrowed the circumstances under which journalists’ records could be obtained.Two of those leak investigations were criticized by members of Congress who contended that prosecutors were too aggressive in obtaining journalists’ records. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. ultimately established new guidelines that significantly narrowed the circumstances under which journalists’ records could be obtained.