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First Gitmo Detainee to Face Trial Pleads Not Guilty

Denies role in 1998 embassy bombings

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 9, 2009 3:41 PM CDT

(AP) – The first Guantanamo Bay detainee to be brought to the US for trial has pleaded not guilty in two embassy bombings. Ahmed Ghailani entered the plea today in federal court in Manhattan. Ghailani is charged with participating in the bombing of embassies in Africa in August 1998, attacks that killed more than 224 people, including 12 Americans.

Ghailani arrived in the US under heavy guard earlier in the day, and his trial is seen as an important test case in President Obama's plan to shut the Guantanamo Bay prison by early next year. US officials say Ghailani began his terrorist career on a bicycle delivering bomb parts and rose through the al-Qaeda ranks to become a bodyguard to Osama bin Laden.

An undated file photo provided by the US District Attorney's office shows Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani.
An undated file photo provided by the US District Attorney's office shows Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
RobN
Jun 10, 2009 12:16 PM CDT
If acquitted, they'll deport him if they can find a country that will take him. It's going to be a bit of a quandry if nobody will take him.
justme
Jun 10, 2009 12:09 PM CDT
Now that this guy is in Fed court, what happens to him if he's acquitted? Can he walk out of the courtroom on American soil? Will the Dems consider him an illegal immigrant and give him the same treatment as the millions of others? Just wondering.
RobN
Jun 10, 2009 12:08 PM CDT
In the present case, the defendant had no attorney at the time the questioning took place. It is a clear difference from the recent case where a person who had been Mirandized and had an attorney available makes the choice to speak without them present. What I have read is that this current defendant was not offered an attorney before being interrogated; that clearly fallls outside the court's most current ruling. Apples and oranges.

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terrorism • Guantanamo Bay • Guantanamo prisoners • Obama administration • Gitmo • President Obama • Ahmed Ghailani • embassy bombings

 
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