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Benghazi suspect pleads not guilty to new murder charges Benghazi suspect pleads not guilty to new murder charges
(about 3 hours later)
The man charged with leading the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four U.S. officials including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens pleaded not guilty to all charges Monday in federal court in Washington.The man charged with leading the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four U.S. officials including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens pleaded not guilty to all charges Monday in federal court in Washington.
Ahmed Abu Khattala, 43, was ordered held without bond by U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper. A federal grand jury on Tuesday filed 17 new charges against the suspected ringleader of the assault on a diplomatic mission and a CIA annex on Sept. 11-12, 2012, counts that included murder and several other death penalty-eligible crimes. Ahmed Abu Khattala, 43, was ordered held without bond by U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper. A federal grand jury on Tuesday filed 18 charges against the suspected ringleader of the assault on a diplomatic mission and a CIA annex on Sept. 11-12, 2012, counts that included murder and several other death penalty-eligible crimes.
Abu Khatalla previously pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge under which he had been held since his capture June 15 in Benghazi in a raid by U.S. Special Operations Forces.Abu Khatalla previously pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge under which he had been held since his capture June 15 in Benghazi in a raid by U.S. Special Operations Forces.
The charges include murder of an internationally protected person, murder of an officer and employee of the United States, killing a person in the course of an attack on a federal facility, destroying a U.S. facility and brandishing a handgun. The charges include murder of an internationally protected person, murder of an officer and employee of the United States, killing a person in the course of an attack on a federal facility, destroying a U.S. facility and brandishing a handgun. But the new indictment does not contribute a broader understanding of how the attacks unfolded.
Last week’s indictment described Abu Khattala was the commander of the Ubaydah Bin Jarrah, a militia in Benghazi that wanted to establish Islamic law in Libya. Last week’s indictment described Abu Khattala was the commander of the Ubaydah Bin Jarrah, a militia in Benghazi that wanted to establish Islamic law in Libya. The next hearing is scheduled for December 9.
Khattala’s defense lawyers said in statement that they will “vigorously defend” their client “in court where the government will be forced to prove his guilt  based upon actual evidence.  Unless and until the government proves his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, Mr. Abu Khatallah is entitled to the presumption of innocence.” Mary Manning Petras and Michelle Peterson, two attorneys in the Federal Public Defender’s Office who are representing Khattalah, released a statement Monday saying in part that there was little the office could say given that they are still waiting for the government to turn over additional material and that “the evidence produced to date is limited and all under a protective order.”
The statement also said “little weight should be given to press statements made by politicians, and everyone should wait to see if there is any actual evidence of his involvement before rushing to judgment. It would not be the first time the government got it wrong on Benghazi.”
Peter Hermann contributed to this report.Peter Hermann contributed to this report.