Laila Al-Arian is Sami Al-Arian's eldest daughter. She joins us to talk about her father’s imprisonment and its effect on the Al-Arian family. We’re also joined by Sami Al-Arian’s attorney, Peter Erlinder. [includes rush transcript]

At the time of his arrest in February 2003, Al-Arian was a leading member of the Muslim community in south Florida and one of the most prominent Palestinian academics and activists in the United States. In September 2001, he was invited to be a guest on “The O'Reilly Factor” under the impression he was going to be discussing Arab-American reactions to 9/11. Instead, host Bill O'Reilly spent the interview accusing him of supporting terrorism. O’Reilly concluded by saying “If I was the C.I.A., I'd follow you wherever you went.”

Beginning the next day, the University of South Florida where Al-Arian worked was barraged by hundreds of threatening letters and emails. Thirty-six hours after the interview, the University put him on paid leave. He was arrested a year and a half later.

• Sami Al-Arian, speaking from prison.

Peter Erlinder is representing Sami Al-Arian in the latest contempt charges against him. He joins me from Minneapolis where he is a professor at the William Mitchell School of Law. We’re also joined by Laila Al-Arian is Sami Al-Arian's eldest daughter. She is a graduate of the Columbia University Journalism School here in New York.

• Peter Erlinder, attorney for Sami Al-Arian. He is a professor at the William Mitchell School of Law. Peter co-founded the Coalition to Protect Political Freedom with Al Arian in the 1990s.
• Laila Al-Arian, Sami Al-Arian's eldest daughter. She is a graduate of the Columbia University Journalism School here in New York. For more information go to FreeSamiAlArian.com