Supporters of Attorney General, Eric Holder’s decision to try terror suspects in New York have been quick to point out that there is a history of the successful terrorist trials in civilian courts.
At a recent hearing, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said, “Federal courts have successfully tried more than 100 terrorist cases since the September 11 attacks”.
Unfortunately, Sen. Leahy is omitting important information regarding the success of terrorist trials in federal courts. The case of Lynn Stewart, the lawyer for Blind Sheikh, Omar Abdel Rahman, demonstrates the dangers of trying terror suspects in the civilian courts.
Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman was convicted of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. In 2005, his lawyer, Lynn Stewart was convicted on charges of conspiracy and providing material support to terror groups. As it turns out, while serving as his lawyer, Stewart passed on messages from the Sheikh to his followers in al Gama’a al Islamiyya, a terrorist organization.
Is the prosecution of the Blind Sheikh’s what Sen. Leahy considers a successful terrorist trial? Yes, the Sheikh was convicted and is serving a life sentence. However, during his trial he managed to get out a message to his supporters to resume terrorist operations against Egypt.
Thanks to Attorney General Holder, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks, will now have the opportunity use our legal system to further his cause. Anyone who thinks terrorist trials are smooth sailing should take a close look at the case of Lynn Stewart and the Blind Sheikh.
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