Judge Koeltl let Lynn Stewart off the hook with a sentence of only 28 months. The U.S. government was pushing for a 30 year sentence.
Lynn was tried and convicted of "providing material support to a terrorist conspiracy." However, her previous service to the poor, disadvantaged and unpopular gives her a free pass on supporting terrorists. Way to go Judge.
To recap, here is what we *KNOW* about Lynn.
- Ahmed Abdel Sattar, her co-defendant *AND* paralegal *WAS* convicted for "conspiracy to kill or kidnap people in another country".
- Ms. Stewart was caught on tape making, and bragging about making, covering noises to distract corrections officers while Mr. Yousry and the sheik communicated.
- Ms. Stewart read a press release to a reporter indicating that the sheik was withdrawing his support for a "cease-fire" or cessation of attacks against the Egyptian government.
Now a bit of info about her paralegal, Ahmed Abdel Sattar.
- Mr. Sattar was recorded on government surveillance tapes as plotting with a high-ranking militant in Islamic Group named Taha to resume the group's campaign against the Egyptian government.
- Mr. Sattar admitted that he drafted a religious edict, or fatwa, in Sheik Abdel-Rahman's name calling for the murder of Jews around the world.
So, Ms. Stewart had a very close relationship with Mr. Sattar -- a convicted terrorist. She let the entire world know about a cessation of attacks against the Egyptian government. Plus she bragged about making `cover noises' for her terrorist buddies to speak.
For all this she gets 28 months. Luckily, Judge Koeltl had harsh words! Judge Keoltl said, "abused her position as a lawyer to gain access to Sheik Abdel-Rahman and used that access" to smuggle messages to terrorists.
Way to be tough on terrorism Judge K. Read more about this case here.
