Padilla Convicted of Supporting Extremists

A federal jury yesterday convicted U.S. citizen and former “dirty bomb” suspect Jose Padilla and two foreign nationals of supporting Muslim extremists and planning terror attacks abroad, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, May 14).

The conviction of 36-year-old Padilla was considered a symbolic victory for the Bush administration’s war on terror.  When Padilla was detained in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, U.S. officials described him as an al-Qaeda operative who had plotted to detonate a radiological weapon in the United States.  Padilla was not tried on the dirty bomb claim.

After being held for 3 1/2 years as an enemy combatant and standing a three-month trial, Padilla was found guilty with co-defendants Adham Amin Hassoun and Kifah Wael Jayyousi of conspiring to murder, kidnap and maim people and two counts of providing terrorists with material support.

Prosecutors said the three men were involved in a terror support cell in North America that funneled money, material and personnel to Islamic extremist groups.  Attorneys for the defendants said they were trying to provide humanitarian aid and relief funds to Muslims in conflict-torn areas.

The judge scheduled sentencing for Dec. 5.

Hassoun and Jayyousi’s attorneys said they would appeal the jury verdict.  Padilla’s lawyer did not provide immediate comment (Curt Anderson, Associated Press/Seattle Times, Aug. 16).

Padilla’s trial did not address his time in military custody or charges that he intended to build a dirty bomb because the government gained information on his alleged plans through overseas interrogations of other suspected terrorists, the New York Times reported. 

Federal evidence regulations limit how information acquired in such a manner can be used in court (Goodnough/Shane, New York Times, Aug. 17).

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