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Judge Questions Plea Deal With Man Tied to Lethal Qaeda Bombings Judge Questions Plea Deal With Man Tied to Lethal Qaeda Bombings
(35 minutes later)
An Egyptian terrorism defendant pleaded guilty in Manhattan on Friday to charges that he had helped Osama bin Laden pass messages that claimed responsibility for the deadly 1998 bombings of two United States Embassies in East Africa and that issued new threats.An Egyptian terrorism defendant pleaded guilty in Manhattan on Friday to charges that he had helped Osama bin Laden pass messages that claimed responsibility for the deadly 1998 bombings of two United States Embassies in East Africa and that issued new threats.
But in an unusual step, the judge, Lewis A. Kaplan of Federal District Court, did not immediately accept the guilty plea, saying he wanted more information about the government’s decision to allow the defendant to plead guilty to three counts that carried a maximum sentence of 25 years.But in an unusual step, the judge, Lewis A. Kaplan of Federal District Court, did not immediately accept the guilty plea, saying he wanted more information about the government’s decision to allow the defendant to plead guilty to three counts that carried a maximum sentence of 25 years.
The defendant, Adel Abdul Bary, who was brought to the United States from Britain in 2012 after a lengthy extradition battle, had faced more than 280 counts. Most were murder charges stemming from the nearly simultaneous attacks on the embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.The defendant, Adel Abdul Bary, who was brought to the United States from Britain in 2012 after a lengthy extradition battle, had faced more than 280 counts. Most were murder charges stemming from the nearly simultaneous attacks on the embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The judge also noted that the plea agreement seemed to suggest that Mr. Bary, 54, could receive credit for the years he was jailed in Britain while fighting extradition to the United States.The judge also noted that the plea agreement seemed to suggest that Mr. Bary, 54, could receive credit for the years he was jailed in Britain while fighting extradition to the United States.
“Just so there’s no mystery about why I’m raising it,” Judge Kaplan explained after Mr. Bary entered his guilty plea, “this man is a defendant — I haven’t counted lately — but on a couple of hundred counts.”“Just so there’s no mystery about why I’m raising it,” Judge Kaplan explained after Mr. Bary entered his guilty plea, “this man is a defendant — I haven’t counted lately — but on a couple of hundred counts.”
“Many, indeed almost all,” of those counts, the judge said, “carry exposure to life imprisonment in the event of conviction.” Such counts would be dismissed under the plea.“Many, indeed almost all,” of those counts, the judge said, “carry exposure to life imprisonment in the event of conviction.” Such counts would be dismissed under the plea.
Prosecutors have said that in 1997 and 1998, Mr. Bary led the London cell of a terrorist group called Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which was headed by Ayman al-Zawahri, a deputy to Bin Laden and now the leader of Al Qaeda. Prosecutors have said that in 1997 and 1998, Mr. Bary led the London cell of a terrorist group called Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which was headed by Ayman al-Zawahri, now the leader of Al Qaeda.
In August 1998, after the embassy attacks, Mr. Bary passed to the news media Al Qaeda’s claims of responsibility for the bombings and threats of future attacks.In August 1998, after the embassy attacks, Mr. Bary passed to the news media Al Qaeda’s claims of responsibility for the bombings and threats of future attacks.
He also arranged for messages to be sent to Bin Laden and Mr. Zawahri, the government said.He also arranged for messages to be sent to Bin Laden and Mr. Zawahri, the government said.
The three counts to which Mr. Bary pleaded guilty included conspiring to kill Americans and two charges related to making threats to kill people and to destroy property by means of explosives.The three counts to which Mr. Bary pleaded guilty included conspiring to kill Americans and two charges related to making threats to kill people and to destroy property by means of explosives.
Mr. Bary, as he acknowledged his guilt in court, rubbed his eyes at times and appeared to be weeping. He told the judge that he had made the calls for which he was charged. “I did that knowingly and with the intention of doing it to transmit the threat to attack the American interests everywhere,” he said.Mr. Bary, as he acknowledged his guilt in court, rubbed his eyes at times and appeared to be weeping. He told the judge that he had made the calls for which he was charged. “I did that knowingly and with the intention of doing it to transmit the threat to attack the American interests everywhere,” he said.
He said he had agreed with Mr. Zawahri and others “to kill American citizens anywhere in the world, either civilian or military.”He said he had agreed with Mr. Zawahri and others “to kill American citizens anywhere in the world, either civilian or military.”
In seeking written arguments, the judge said he was obliged to consider whether the counts to which Mr. Bary pleaded “reflect adequately the seriousness of the underlying offense.”In seeking written arguments, the judge said he was obliged to consider whether the counts to which Mr. Bary pleaded “reflect adequately the seriousness of the underlying offense.”
A prosecutor, Sean S. Buckley, said the charges were “appropriate.” Mr. Buckley said Mr. Bary, though he faced murder charges, “was not alleged to have himself engaged in any overt act that resulted in those murders.”A prosecutor, Sean S. Buckley, said the charges were “appropriate.” Mr. Buckley said Mr. Bary, though he faced murder charges, “was not alleged to have himself engaged in any overt act that resulted in those murders.”
Mr. Bary’s lawyer, Andrew G. Patel, asked the judge to accept the plea, adding, “I believe that this is a just result.”Mr. Bary’s lawyer, Andrew G. Patel, asked the judge to accept the plea, adding, “I believe that this is a just result.”
A son of Mr. Bary’s, a London rapper named Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, has been the subject of speculation that he was the militant who beheaded the American journalist James Foley.A son of Mr. Bary’s, a London rapper named Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, has been the subject of speculation that he was the militant who beheaded the American journalist James Foley.