Defense lawyer seeks dismissal of Federal criminal charges over NSA spying, entrapment

Hi folks -

Hope this proves relevant.

The defense motion states:

"The government engaged in illegal electronic surveillance of thousands of U.S. persons, including Yassin Aref, then instigated a sting operation to attempt to entrap Mr. Aref into supporting a nonexistent terrorist plot, then dared to claim that the illegal NSA operation was justified because it was the only way to catch Mr. Aref," Kindlon's motion said.

The way the Torturer General brandished the "T-word" last Friday sure suggests the NSA would have been spying on eco-defenders. Obviously, the AG's accusations are false and absurd (non-violent devout vegans burning wood-frame buildings with resident mice, rats, silverfish, ants and termites? I don't think so...)

However, the fact that the Administration unleashed the NSA's domestic spying upon anyone the White House accused as a "terrorist" suggests eco-activists may also have subject to warrantless surveillance, targeting by provocateurs (paid or salaried), and false indictments.

Show trials can't happen here, of course - that's only for the bad countries.

love and solidarity,

a medic

PS - Although it should go without saying, the current climate demands it be said: the eco-activists are innocent.

Sole reason for a post regarding the matter below is that the pattern of government entrapment resulting in false charges in that case may reflect practices used by the prosecution against eco-defenders.

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http://talkleft.com/new_archives/013806.html

Lawyer Seeks Dismissal of Criminal Charges Over NSA Surveillance

Criminal defense lawyer Terry Kindlon (a frequent reader and commenter on TalkLeft) has filed what is believed to be the first motion to dismiss criminal charges against his client due to Bush's warrantless NSA electronic monitoring program.

An FBI sting case that targeted two members of an Albany mosque should be dismissed because the investigation originated from a national spying program that may be illegal, an attorney for one of the defendants said in a motion filed in U.S. District Court. The challenge of the government's case against Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain, who are accused of taking part in a plot to sell missile launchers to terrorists, may force federal prosecutors, and a U.S. District judge, to address a national debate unfolding about whether the National Security Agency violated any laws by eavesdropping on U.S. residents.

Terence L. Kindlon, Aref's attorney, filed a nine-page motion late Friday asking for all evidence in the case to be thrown out, and for a dismissal of the indictment. While defense lawyers in the case have been requesting access to classified evidence for more than a year, the new motion specifically targets the NSA program.

....Now, with attorneys for Aref and Hossain confident secret surveillance was the catalyst for the FBI's Albany sting, the stage is set for the NSA program to be challenged on constitutional grounds as part of the local case. The question is whether the government will be compelled, even tacitly, to confirm that Aref was targeted because of information gleaned from the controversial spy program.

>From Terry's motion:

"The government engaged in illegal electronic surveillance of thousands of U.S. persons, including Yassin Aref, then instigated a sting operation to attempt to entrap Mr. Aref into supporting a nonexistent terrorist plot, then dared to claim that the illegal NSA operation was justified because it was the only way to catch Mr. Aref," Kindlon's motion said.

There's a gag order in the case and neither Terry nor the AUSA are talking.

[Graphic created exclusively for TalkLeft by CL.]

Posted Tuesday :: January 24, 2006| Terror Trials , War on Terror