Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Al Qaeda spokesman and Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, appeared in lower Manhattan's Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Court House to plead not guilty to terrorism charges. The NY Times reports, "Slight, trim and balding with a manicured gray beard, Mr. Abu Ghaith was led into the courtroom wearing handcuffs as about a dozen United States marshals—an unusually large complement—provided security. His handcuffs were removed for the proceeding."
According to the FBI, "The indictment charges Abu Ghayth with participating in a conspiracy to kill United States nationals, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332(b). The offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of life. No trial date has yet been set in the case." Attorney General Eric Holder—who really wanted to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other 9/11 plotters in NYC—said, "No amount of distance or time will weaken our resolve to bring America’s enemies to justice. To violent extremists who threaten the American people and seek to undermine our way of life, this arrest sends an unmistakable message: There is no corner of the world where you can escape from justice because we will do everything in our power to hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
While it's not believed that Abu Ghaith, who was married to Bin Laden's daughter Fatima, was involved in the 9/11 attacks or any attacks on Americans or had an operation role with Al Qaeda, a law enforcement official told the Times that he's the "most senior Qaeda figure to face criminal trial in New York since America’s war against the terrorist network began." But the man the Post call's Bin Laden's "jerk-in-law" apparently said "the nation of Islam" should wage war on "the Jews, the Christians and the Americans."
Mayor Bloomberg isn't saying whether he wants Abu Ghaith to be tried here, but told New Yorkers on his radio show, "No street is going to be closed because of this. Would I prefer to have it elsewheres? I’m not going to get involved in that because I don’t want to make the president’s job any more difficult." The Post's sources explain why Abu Ghaith is being tried her: "Bin Laden was originally indicted in New York 15 years ago — three years before 9/11 — and the agents and prosecutors on that case all worked in New York. 'The knowledge about bin Laden and al Qaeda is all here,' one official said."
