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August 17, 2007
Padilla Verdict ~ Guilty On All Counts
Padilla convicted of terrorism support
yahoo news ......for complete article
Miami
Jose Padilla, a U.S. citizen held for 3 1/2 years as an enemy combatant, was convicted Thursday of helping Islamic extremists and plotting overseas attacks in a case that came to symbolize the Bush administration's zeal to clamp down on terrorism.
U.S. officials say Padilla admitted a much deeper involvement with al-Qaida — including exploring the "dirty bomb" plot — during his incarceration in a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C. But none of that evidence could be used at trial because he was interrogated without being advised of his legal rights and because he had no access to a lawyer.
Instead, after a three-month trial and only a day and a half of deliberations, the 36-year-old Padilla and his foreign-born co-defendants were convicted of conspiracy to murder, kidnap and maim people and two counts of providing material support to terrorists.
Padilla showed no emotion and stared straight ahead as he heard the verdict that could bring him a life prison sentence. One person in the family section started to sob.
The three were accused of being part of a North American support cell that provided supplies, money and recruits to groups of Islamic extremists. The defense contended they were trying to help persecuted Muslims in war zones with relief and humanitarian aid.
The White House thanked the jury for a "just" verdict.
"We commend the jury for its work in this trial and thank it for upholding a core American principle of impartial justice for all," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council at the White House. "Jose Padilla received a fair trial and a just verdict."
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales called the verdict "a significant victory in our efforts to fight the threat posed by terrorists and their supporters."
Wild Thing's comment........
After the verdict came down, the CNN website had enemy combatant in quotation marks. Anything to undermine this victory for America. They have sine removed it. hahaha What jerks to have put it that way to begin with.
Posted by Wild Thing at August 17, 2007 12:45 AM
Comments
About dang time they did something to this waste of skin.
Posted by: Lynn at August 17, 2007 07:18 PM
OMG Lynn, I love how you put that. Brillant and Yessss
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 17, 2007 11:48 PM
