“He complied with Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV”s ruling and did not name the other person, who is Osama bin Ladin.” That kind of ruling makes the political slant of this judge highly suspect. By Lee Hammel in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette :
BOSTON”” A government witness yesterday testified that Care International falls into the pattern of Muslim charities that engage in economic jihad.
Matthew Levitt, former Deputy Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, said economic jihad is practiced by groups who encourage those who cannot fight holy wars themselves to instead make donations enabling others to engage in jihad. He said that Care International’s solicitations aimed at women and children, as well as the organization’s support programs for widows and orphans, do just that.
Mr. Levitt, a former intelligence analyst for the FBI, also told the jury in U.S. District Court that Al-Kifah Refugee Center is another name for Makhtab Al-Khidamat, Arabic for Human Services Office. He testified that MAK was founded by Sheikh Abdullah Azzam “and another person” and provided financing and support to those fighting jihad.
He complied with Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV”s ruling and did not name the other person, who is Osama bin Ladin. The government has been building a case that Care International is an outgrowth or successor organization to Al-Kifah Refugee Center, a contention that the defense says is untrue.
It was damaging testimony from the government’s last witness before resting its case yesterday. Later in the day, in a hearing without the jury, Charles P. McGinty, lawyer for Samir Al-Monla, called for a mistrial to be declared.
He said that with Mr. Levitt’s testimony tying Al-Kifah to Makhtab Al-Khidamat and MAK to fighting jihad the defense’s case had “unraveled.” Mr. McGinty said the testimony violated the judge’s orders on what can be said to the jury.
Judge Saylor, who overruled numerous defense objections to Mr. Levitt’s testimony, denied the motion for a mistrial….