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Convicted Attorney Lynne Stewart: "You Can't Lock Up
the Lawyers"
Iraqi-American Doctor Convicted of Violating Iraq Sanctions
Convicted Attorney Lynne Stewart: "You Can't
Lock Up the Lawyers"
Lynne Stewart and her attorney, Michael Tigar, join Democracy
Now! in our firehouse studio for their first extended national
broadcast interview following Thursday's jury decision to
convict Stewart on all five counts of conspiring to aid terrorists
and lying to the government. The verdict reverberated around
the country, especially with lawyers who fear the government's
aim is to discourage them from representing unpopular clients.
We also speak with one of the witnesses at her trial, former
U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark. [includes rush
transcript]
Civil rights attorney Lynne
Stewart was convicted on all five counts of conspiring
to aid terrorists and lying to the government Thursday in
a case that reverberated with defense lawyers around the country.
Stewart was convicted of smuggling out messages from her
jailed client - Shiekh Omar Abdel Rahman also known as the
blind sheikh who is serving a life sentence on terror-related
charges. Most notably Stewart was convicted of helping Rahman
contact followers in Egypt with messages that could have ended
a cease-fire there and ignited violence. She faces up to 35
years in prison.
Stewart's co-defendants Ahmed Sattar, a postal worker who
acted as a paralegal for Abdel-Rahman, and Mohammed Yousry,
an Arabic translator, were also convicted of all charges against
them.
The verdict was a major victory for the Justice Department
and one of the country's most closely-watched cases since
the Sept. 11 attacks.
Stewart's indictment in April 2002 was personally announced
by Attorney General John Ashcroft. It was the first time that
the federal government has prosecuted a defense attorney in
a terrorism case. Lawyers around the country fear the government's
aim is to discourage them from representing unpopular clients.
Yesterday's guilty verdict was hailed by Ashcroft's successor,
Alberto Gonzales who said the convictions "send a clear,
unmistakable message that this department will pursue both
those who carry out acts of terrorism and those who assist
them with their murderous goals."
The 7-month trial was held in the same New York federal courthouse
where the Rosenbergs were tried for conspiracy to commit espionage
more than a half century ago. It featured very few witnesses
as the government's case was based primarily on transcripts
from more than 85,000 secretly recorded audio and video clips
of meetings between Stewart and her client as well as the
home phone of Ahmed Abdel Sattar.
The jury deliberated for 13 days before delivering a sweeping
guilty verdict. Judge, John Koeltl, set her sentencing for
July 15. Because she was convicted of a felony, she will be
immediately disbarred. She remains free on bail, but cannot
travel outside New York State.
After the verdict was read out, Lynne Stewart emerged from
the courthouse with her husband and spoke to reporters gathered
outside.
- Lynne Stewart,
speaking outside the courthouse, February 10, 2005.
- Lynne Stewart, in our firehouse studio. Go to LynneStewart.org
for more information.
- Michael Tigar, Lynne Stewart's attorney. He joins us
in our firehouse studio.
- Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General. He testified
in Lynne Stewart's case. He also was recently named as one
of Saddam Hussein's lawyers.
Iraqi-American Doctor Convicted of Violating Iraq
Sanctions
Iraqi-American doctor Rafil Dhafir, was convicted on 59
charges including violating economic sanctions against Iraq,
Medicare fraud and tax evasion. He is thought to be the only
U.S citizen to be convicted of breaking the Iraq sanctions.
We speak with his attorney and his friend of 20 years. [includes
rush
transcript]
Now, to a case that has received very little attention --
Iraqi-American doctor - Rafil Dhafir - was found guilty yesterday
of violating economic sanctions against Iraq. The government
alleged that Dr. Dhafir illegally raised millions of dollars
and violated U.S sanctions by sending funds to Iraq through
his charity -- "Help the Needy".
When Dhafir was apprehended in February 2003, Attorney General
John Ashcroft talked about the arrest as part of President
Bush's war on terror. -- But terrorism charges were never
bought against Dr. Dhafir - and instead he was indicted on
60 charges including violating economic sanctions, Medicare
fraud and tax evasion. Dr. Dhafir has been found guilty on
59 of those charges - and is apparently the only U.S citizen
to have ever been convicted of breaking economic sanctions
against Iraq.
- Joel Cohen, Dr. Dhafir's attorney.
- Mohamed Khater, 20-year friend of Dr. Dhafir.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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