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5 years later, Fla.-Va. terrorism case in limbo
May 15, 2014
FILE - This Jan. 16, 2009 file photo shows former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian outside federal court in Alexandria, Va. For more than five years, a federal judge upset with the continued prosecution of a Florida professor once accused as a leading terrorist has simply refused to rule on his case.That has left the government unable to deport him, unable to prosecute him and flummoxed on how to move forward. In April 2009, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema told lawyers she would rule “soon” on whether to dismiss a criminal contempt case against Sami Al-Arian, a longtime Palestinian activist. Since then, nothing has happened. Photo: Kevin Wolf, AP
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — For five years, a federal judge upset with the prosecution of a Florida professor once accused of being a leading terrorist has simply refused to rule on his case. It's left the government unable to deport him, unable to prosecute him, and flummoxed on how to move forward.
In April 2009, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema told lawyers she would rule "soon" on whether to dismiss criminal contempt charges filed in Virginia against former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian, a longtime prominent Palestinian activist, who refused to testify in a separate terror-related investigation.
The ruling hasn't come, and nothing has happened in the case. The delay is unusual for Alexandria's federal courthouse, known in legal circles as the Rocket Docket for its swift disposition of cases. Legal experts say they can't think of a similar case elsewhere that has languished for so long.
On the surface at least, Al-Arian — who has declined to invoke his speedy trial rights — benefits from his silence and the standoff. If the Virginia case were dropped, Al-Arian, 56, born in Kuwait to Palestinian refugees before coming to the U.S. in 1975, would be deported under the terms of a Florida plea.
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/5-years-later-Fla-Va-terrorism-case-in-limbo-5480532.php#page-1