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Saudis Raise FBI Ire by Paying for Lawyers
A old story getting new life, it seems. EFL:The Saudi government has been paying for lawyers, and in some cases for bond, for hundreds of its citizens who have been detained, prosecuted or questioned inside the United States during the crackdown on terrorism. The FBI openly calls the practice tantamount to buying off witnesses. Saudi officials said they have spent more than $1 million to provide American lawyers for those detained or questioned here since the Sept. 11 attacks. Most, they said, are students being held on technical violations of immigration laws. Like being here illegally. The Saudis acknowledged concerns by the Justice Department and FBI, but said it was essential that Saudis who are unfamiliar with the American legal system be provided with good lawyers to defend themselves. "Our view is give them lawyers and let the process take its course, and if they are found guilty of crimes they will pay their price and would have had fair representation. If not, they should be released," said Adel al-Jubeir, Crown Prince Abdullahâs foreign policy adviser. "We advise them the have a duty to remain silent when being questioned by infidels. They have a right to a attorney appointed by us. If they give up the right to remain silent, they are informed their testimony can and will be used against their family here in Saudi" John Pistole, assistant director of the FBIâs counterterrorism division, recently told the Senate the FBI has raised concerns with the Saudi government that paying legal bills and bond for Saudis being questioned in the terror probe could influence what they say in their testimony. How about that, the FBI found a clue! "To us, that is tantamount to buying off a witness, if you will. So that gives us concern if the government is supplying money for defense counsel," Pistole testified. Plus if the Saudis supply a defense counsel, how much you want to bet they will be advising the Saudis what their "clients" are telling the FBI? Posted by: Steve 2003-10-17 |
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