Al-Arian walk watch. He was just a political activist, you see. Sure, he was active for groups that gloried in the murder of civilians, but hey, who’s perfect?
From AP, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
TAMPA, Fla. — A former professor who faces charges that he financed a violent group accused the government Friday of destroying evidence proving he was a political activist, not a terrorist.
Attorneys for Sami Al-Arian also argued the charges should be dismissed because the government took so long in indicting the former University of South Florida professor.
Al-Arian was under investigation by the FBI for two decades before he was arrested on racketeering charges in February 2003. His attorneys said it’s unfair to expect them to build a defense when memories of events have faded and records are no longer available.
A U.S. magistrate did not immediately rule on a defense request that government agents be forced to explain how they handled the case.
Al-Arian, 47, and three other men are to go to trial in April on charges they were the North American leaders of Islamic Jihad, which has been linked to more than 100 deaths in Israel. They face life in prison if convicted.