Defense questions FBI's tactics in tree-lighting bomb plot
PORTLAND, Ore. - In questioning an undercover FBI agent, a defense attorney on Wednesday aimed to show the agent lavished Mohamed Mohamud with money and food in the months before the 2010 Christmas tree lighting bomb plot.
On the fourth day of trial, defense attorney Lisa Hay illustrated how the 19-year-old was vulnerable to entrapment: Mohamud was poor, had a troubled home life and was conflicted in his religious beliefs when the agent known as Youssef and a fellow undercover agent came into his life.
And Youssef took advantage of that, Hay asserted.
Youssef, the prosecution’s star witness, posed as an Al-Qaida recruiter and corresponded and met with the defendant for months leading up to the Nov. 26, 2010, bomb plot. His true identity was shielded during the trial to protect other undercover operations.
Hay began her cross-examination of Youssef on Wednesday morning, wrapping it up by lunchtime.
Hay pointed out Mohamud was conflicted in his religious beliefs – he prescribed to radical Islam, but still drank, smoked and partied at Oregon State University.
“He knew a lot about religion, but he was still seeking guidance?” Hay asked.
“Yes, but not religious guidance,” Youssef said.
The defense attorney then questioned Youssef about giving Mohamud nearly $3,000. Youssef said the money was intended for rent, a rental deposit and utilities. The FBI wanted Mohamud to live alone, so agents could monitor him better and keep him isolated from other potential co-conspirators.
“He didn’t have much money until you came into his life, correct?,” Hay asked.
“I didn’t know what his bank account held,” Youssef said.
The attorney pointed out that Mohamud did not have a job when he met Youssef and talked about needing money.
Hay showed how Mohamud lacked the sophistication to carry out the bomb plan himself, citing his young age.
“Sometimes you talked to him in a tone as if he were still a child, correct?,” Hay asked.
“I disagree. I see how it could have come off like that,” Youssef answered.
Mohamud wasn’t sure how to obtain a storage shed to house the van with the bomb, the defense attorney pointed out.
Hay played a sound recording of a conversation between the agent and Mohamud, where Mohamud questioned what type of storage shed to rent and expressed confusion on how to reserve one.
“Did he ultimately rent the storage shed?,” U.S. Assistant Attorney Ethan Knight questioned when it was her turn to question Youssef again. Youssef said Mohamud did.
Knight then asked Youssef about whether the teenager appeared manipulable and conflicted, as the defense is arguing. Youssef said he did not.
“He knew what he wanted to do and it was to kill Americans,” Youssef said. “Before I met him.”
After roughly two days of testimony, Youssef may be called to the stand again later in the trial to discuss the day of the bomb plot.
The trial is expected to last four weeks.
He pushed the button....maybe the bleeding hearts would feel differently if they were there that night...
Yup, yup this teen was "...vulnerable to entrapment." Gosh, he was motivated=motive, sought out the 'means' and much to the defenses feeble effort had the 'opportunity' given him. I guess his parents did not bring him up right, the system failed him while growing up, he was easily influenced by bad people and had no idea what he was doing because he is a weak willed terrorist. Reminds me of Jeff Dunham's 'Achmed, Jr.'
I can't believe what I have read so far on this case.. The F.B.I. should be ashamed of themselves.. This kid is not innocent, but he is no a terrorist..
 @dougrpdx Means, motive & opportunity=guilty - normally I agree with you, but not on this call...
@dougrpdx .....sure sounds like he wanted to be and tried too be! He pressed the buttons !
 @Rob C 503 I want to win the lottery too but that isn't going to happen.
The tactics used by the FBI are just their cookie-cutter tactics used all over the place setup gullible, ie. useful idiots just so they can claim they caught a terrorist. Never mind the facts that the majority are so addled out of their minds and otherwise closely fit the mental retardation level of cognitive functioning necessary to get such a diagnosis. It's pretty clear the FBI pushed and pushed this kid into this, and clearly never had the means necessary to do the job he may have wanted to do without help from big brother.
Well if the kid wasn't a terrorist before he met the fbi, he was after they got hold of him, rented him a home, gave him cash, taught him how to be a terrorist and provided him with explosives and technical training and a target. I have some difficulties with "Youssef". First of all, I bet they did know what was in the kid's bank account, and secondly, I think there is something wrong when your accuser doesn't even have to provide their real name. Some guy in a ski mask in federal court testifying as a witness for the government. That's real credible LoL
 @The Voice of Reason Yeah, that line about not knowing what was in his bank account said everything I need to know about the FBI in this case.Â
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LOL, the FBI had "no idea" what this kid's financial situation was? Really? REALLY?  HAHAHAHAHA, give me an f'in break
This kid couldn't readily determine the steps for renting a storage locker without coaching from the FBI....yeah, he sounds like a real kingpin of terrorism.
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It is understandable that the FBI isn't in the business of providing "religious counseling or guidance" but it is very interesting that the FBI wanted this kid to "live alone" thus isolating him not only from other "potential terrorists" but also from any possible positive influences that may lead him in a more life-affirming direction. The FBI says that their reasoning for isolating the subject was to prevent him from having any contact with any other "potential terrorists"....doesn't that sound contradictory and a weak explanation? It seems that the FBI would want to identify all the members of a terrorist cell and round them all up together like when they get mobsters. Why would the FBI not use this kid as a means for identifying others rather than keeping him isolated? It just couldn't possibly be because it's easier to manipulate people when their all alone with a single adult influence?  Â
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The FBI has tried to sell this kid as a kingpin of terrorism for the past two years; and their story has always smelled like three day old seafood.Â
@Icarus ......so everything is, and was, manipulation?? This guy isn't a seven year old. Lets keep this simple: do ya know the difference between right and wrong. Pretty simple really !
 @Rob C 503 Â
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Sure, Rob, let's keep it simple. As an adult and reasonable and conscientious person; I know that even if it is not necessarily wrong legally that it is wrong morally which is to say that it would fall out of the bounds of my personal ethic to abuse my relative power e.g. wealth, authority, and intelligence, over a clearly vulnerable person and groom them with the intent to exploit and use that person strictly for my own personal gain and without any regard for the welfare of that individual. That is what pedophiles, confidence men, and Wall Street bankers do.
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Sure, this kid needed to be watched and some action taken but the dramatic reveal of the whole "Christmas Tree Plot" by his co-conspirators reads like a dime store novel with too many gaps in the story and an ultimate rush to the conclusion.Â
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The FBI were left smarting after the Portland City Council pulled out of the JTTF in 2005 as a result of FBI proprietorial excesses and Civil Rights violations in the persecution of Brandon Mayfield, an innocent man, who ultimately settled with the government for $2 million and a formal apology. It is very curious that within 5 months of the "Christmas Tree Plot" and all the media hype fed by FBI press releases, nobody was able to dispute the FBI narrative, the public and the Portland City council had been convinced to rejoin the JTTF.Â
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My dime store novel reads a little differently but at least the lead character isn't an incompetent kid incapable of renting a storage locker without being fed, housed, and, coached by the FBI. Is it possible that the FBI might have used the resources of the Government and and a stupid kid as a patsy to manufacture a public example why Portland really needed the JTTF?
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@Icarus .......good commentary. In spite of these rationalizations.......he pressed the buttons thinking and not caring that people would die.
Some defense attorney. This is what happens when you don't have money to buy a real attorney. Â Sounds more and more like the FBI pushed him much than they've lead on in the past. Â I guess getting executed, or spending life in prison is what you get if your really so freaking stupid and get see a bunch of guys pushing you into something insane like blowing up a bloody christmas tree.Â
 @axpmanÂ
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It would be very telling about the FBI case if a public defender overturned the prosecution's manure cart.
 @axpman I don't think a young, impressionable person such as this can exactly match wits with a team of professional FBI agents. They preyed on and coached him and promised him the means by which to carry out terror. These are some of the same tactics used by real terrorists. As a study in behavior, seeing how a person can be led to follow through with terror is important but, this guy didn't seem to be trained or have inside information and was disenfranchised and curious. As terrible as the implications are in cases like this, I'm some bit wary of the clandestine elements lending themselves to deception.Â
 @pique The FBI is great at deception, particularly deception of citizens whom might actually want to believe they're doing the job assigned to them. I mean, if they have to push, prod, and coerce a stupid kid just to get some positive press.. it's pretty telling.Â
 @Rob C 503 What "first hand knowledge of the operations and tactics of the FBI" do you have? Blind allegiance to anything & everything the government does doesn't make the way they do it right, let alone legal or even lend credibility to themselves.
@axpman ......ah, the media. Then it must be true. And so you put out the "great deception". Because of the media. Think about this.........the media has promulgating a "big deception" for years. As I suspected, you have no first hand knowledge of the operations and tactics of the FBI.
 @Rob C 503 In every case that has hit the media the story & tactics used are the same, as I said before, cookie-cutter.
@axpman .......what has been your experience with the FBI's "great deception". Have you been on the receiving end? How do you come by this knowledge? Former agent?
I wonder what would have happened if the FBI coached him to be against terror plots like this instead of leading him on with promises of successful terrorism?
 @pique For 3000 bucks, a place to live and food to eat? LOL! What do you think?Â
And thats an excuse and justification for murder????
@pique .......your point?
 @Rob C 503  @pique That tempting people might lead them to ways they wouldn't have gone otherwise.
@axpman .....who put the gun to his head and say .......press the buttons that'll explode a bomb? Who?
 @Rob C 503 The press is used by the FBI so they can parade these idiots around as if its some kind of accomplishment this retarded kid is off the street. When you have to coerce an idiot into doing something, and explain every little detail to them, yeah there is a bit of manipulation on the FBI's part, this particular idiot is not the threat he's made out to be, as evidence of the FBI pushing him into this.
@axpman .....and by the way, you seem willing to think that the FBI is this manipulative network. And where do you get that from? Not firsthand experience. The press. Probably the most manipulative corrupt organizations in the country.
@axpman .....I have no "need". I understand that if someone presses the buttons with the expectation of killing men women and children. That its wrong. This punk didnt think so !!
 @Rob C 503 Why do you have this need to want to believe the FBI saved us for some scary terrorist?
@pique .......do people know the difference between right and wrong?
Doesn't the defense know any better?
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The FBI doesn't lie, wiretap illegally,
intimidate witnesses or suspects, set up patsys
to take the fall, or violate anyone's constitutional rights...
 @Mipsfer Never.
"...was poor, had a troubled home life and was conflicted in his religious beliefs..."
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Describes my life growing up.
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Two alcoholic (and often missing) parents, 4 siblings and an empty fridge. I recall more than one winter huddled in one room because we didn't have heat.
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I have never wanted to âmartyrâ myself or harm anyone.
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Cop-out
 @Repoman I've known so many people like this. Let me tell you, about half of them would have done just about ANYTHING for just that 3000 bucks, especially if they were made to feel included in some sort of clandestine "club" that appeared to have a sense of safety about it. I mean, never mind the "I hate America so I'm going to blow up the Christmas crowd," stuff. I've known guys in my youth who were born and raised right here on U.S. soil -- who would tell you they love America, Apple Pie, and George W. Bush -- and they would push that button just because it seemed to be leading to some kind of financial security. Darn tootin' they wouldÂ
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I'm convinced now that this kid, whatever bravado and bluster he ever delivered about "killing Americans," was just a poor, dumb kid shooting his mouth off. But when the money and the connections started coming in, it got serious, because -- BEYOND killing Americans -- this meant a possible way out of the maze.
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Poverty is one hell of a drug folks!
"Defense questions FBI tactics"........ Wonder how much questioning they did of their client?