Iraqi special forces intelligence agents check men's IDs in the search for Islamic State fighters in Mosul, Iraq on Nov. 27. Credit:Goran Tomasevic/Reuters
Politico: Judge orders government disclosures on American held by U.S. military
The Justice Dept. acknowledges the prisoner, who allegedly fought for ISIS in Syria, asked the FBI for a lawyer.
A visibly frustrated federal judge ordered the government on Thursday to disclose whether an American detained by the U.S. military on suspicion of fighting for ISIS in Syria was advised of his rights to an attorney and whether he indicated that he wants to pursue legal action challenging his detention.
During an hourlong hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington, Judge Tanya Chutkan repeatedly expressed surprise and concern at the government’s stance regarding the prisoner, who has been in U.S. custody since Sept. 12 and has not been publicly identified.
Read more ....
Update #1: The Latest: American Captured in Syria Has Asked for Lawyer (US News and World Report/AP)
Update #2: American Detained by Military Wants a Lawyer, Government Acknowledges -- New York Times
Update #3: DOJ: American caught fighting for ISIS has been read his rights, but not given an attorney -- The Hill
WNU Editor: I first commented on this case last month .... American ISIS Fighter Captured In Syria And Held In Iraq Now Wants A Lawyer (October 30, 2017). My commentary also still holds ....
.... If you have no evidence .... why keep him? The problem is that many of these surviving ISIS fighters have committed terrible war crimes .... and those who could provide evidence against these men have (unfortunately) been killed by them. This is not going to be resolved over night .... but I suspect that the pressure to release him is only going to grow with time.
