Defense: FBI terrorism sting targeted a 'kid'
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — For days, prosecutors in the trial of Mohamed Mohamud have hammered jurors with recording after recording in which undercover agents gave the target of an FBI sting a series of chances to reject their advances and turn his back to terror.
The undercover agents were posing as members of al-Qaida, and supported the covert recordings by testifying that they hoped the suspect would walk away from the plot.
That narrative was challenged Thursday by celebratory debriefings — meetings that were accidentally recorded — in which undercover agents and their handlers said it was "fantastic" that Mohamud asked them for explosives, a crucial step in the sting that culminated with Mohamud's arrest in November 2010.
"We are fortunate in this case that the government forgot to turn off its microphones," federal public defender Steve Wax said.
The inadvertent recordings could prove important to the defense's assertion that Mohamud was entrapped.
Wax said the attitudes that the FBI agents expressed in the recordings should be considered evidence that they were not merely assessing whether Mohamud was a threat, but rather were putting together a prosecutorial case before Mohamud did anything wrong.
"The government argues that they are imploring him not to do this," Wax said, "but when the agents are alone ... they're saying, 'Great, we're thrilled, good job.'"
Mohamud has been charged with attempting to blow up Portland's 2010 Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. The bomb was a fake provided by undercover FBI agents who met with their handlers after in-person conversations with Mohamud.
At least one of them left a recorder running, and among the agents recorded was "Hussein," the pseudonym of an undercover FBI agent posing as an al-Qaida bomb specialist who has testified over two days about his role in the sting.
Wax tried to get the recordings entered into evidence Thursday, but U.S. District Court Judge Garr King declined, saying Wax could play them only if he needed to rebut a statement from "Hussein."
That began an hours-long cat-and-mouse game, with Wax questioning "Hussein" on his intentions during the sting. The agent assented that he was happy Mohamud picked a "sexy" crime and thought the FBI had enough evidence in mid-November to make an arrest.
He didn't challenge Wax on his state of mind during the recordings, so the recordings weren't played.
"There was no sadness that a teenage American kid (met) with supposed al-Qaida figures in the way that Mohamud did?" Wax asked.
"No sadness," the agent responded.
If this "kid" had walked away they might actually have a case as it is he actually tried to detonate what he thought was a bomb. His chances for anything other than a guilty verdict vanished when he dialed the phone to set the bomb off. He knew what he was doing he knew what would happen if that bomb went off. He fully intended to murder as many people as he could. Thank you FBI for stopping this terrorist scumbag before he got his hands on a real bomb.
Anyone been to Tigard lately? Gangs of Middle Eastern and African Muslims everywhere. Why is it if we moved ot tried to live in their countries we'd have to dress and act as they do, but these people come over here by the boat load for what we have, then turn on us and we're supposed to roll over and accept it? No! Either integrate into our society or go back to the beaheading if your archaic religious nut runned countries.
He would have been at the prime age for al-Qaida to recruit him and actually made the tree bombing a reality.
So their defense is that the FBI was building a case from day one? That's their job! As the recordings show, they repeatedly tried to talk him out of it, but as he continued to move forward with his plans to commit the crime they documented every little step.
Â
Defense Attorney: "I'm sorry your honor - you need to let my client go because the FBI's private conversations prove that they were intent on doing their job to the best of their ability." Give me a break.
Anyone who calls this guy a KID needs to wake the heck up. He was 19 at the time.
@Peregrine What did they call the "kid" that put a gun to his 14yr old girlfriends head an pulled the trigger? I think I remember things like "gunman", "Monster" and a few others that don't come to mind off hand!
And of course they are going to be supportive of the kid. They are playing the role of terrorists... do you think terrorists are gonna be trying to talk one of thier own out of doing something? ffs.
A kid huh, nice defense angle but even a 12 year old should know its wrong to kill people.  Nice try though, cant blame them for trying.
My my.. Thank goodness we kept the recording going.. Except they " erased " the key part.. REALLY ?Â
I am all for putting terrorists behind bars forever, what the F.B.I. did to this boy is disgusting... Let's hope the Portland jury sees right through them..
@dougrpdx what makes him too young to kill others? It seems to me you and those who think as you should have been at that lighting and with the real deal in his hands and see if you wouldn't think diffrently. At least pretend you care about the rest of the people around you who aren't trying to blow places and people up in the name of their religion.
 @dougrpdx BS. He was 19 or JUST shy of it when he was doing his planning. He is not a KID. Stop trying to make excuses for someone that (at least at that point) would have gladly blown your apologetic butt to pieces and happily murdered everyone you hold dear.
I am curious where are all the goverment conspiracy theorist on this. Does that only apply when it appears there may be an issue that affects you directly? Like sensible gun laws. None of you seem to be supporting MR. Mohamud. Not thati do. It just seems like this would be something you wingnuts would want to attack the government on with one of your wacked out theorries.
Oh, please. If he was 5 years old, he probably really might not comprehend the difference between right and wrong. The little jerk knew EXACTLY what he was doing and what he wanted to do. This thing about protecting young people from prosecution like they are incapable of killing or maiming others is nothing but B.S.
Â
Being a minor doesn't make someone any less capable of evil than an adult. An adult has just had a little more time to give it some serious consideration.
 @Mikey I agree... The problem here is we have adults who may have possibly led a child into terrorism.. Not unheard of you know !
 @dougrpdx  @Mikey ~ What "child"..???   Unless he was / is... I think the term is "developmentally disabled"... he is NO CHILD...!  Â
@dougrpdx @Mikey " . . . possibly led a child into terrorism." Excuse me, but wasn't the accused at least 18 when the discussions with the FBI happened? Legally, that makes him an adult. He was also old enough to know the difference between right and wrong and fully understand what would happen if he carried out the plot.
And if this "kid" had killed dozens of people, what would the media say then? Everyone comments about slow law enforcement reaction after the fact, but no one ever appreciates the proactive approach in saving lives!
Killers come in all age groups! Are we only supposed to take seriously those that are over 18, 21, 35, 86? Give me a break, clowns. A killer is a killer no matter how old he is, or what weapon he chooses to use!
Muslim terrorists target kids too. And women and children. This child didnt seem to mind pressing the buttons in the hopes he would kill a lot of people !
He was a 'kid', so that makes his decision to blow up part of downtown ok.
Â
Hmm, yes, I don't think that defense will hold up too well.