Material Support for Terrorism—Dropped Charge

For nine years, Muhammad Salah “has been the focus of a high-profile terrorism investigation.”^[1] He was accused of racketeering conspiracy and false statements, as well as material support for terrorism.^[2] Today, in “a move that stunned defense attorneys,” federal prosecutors dropped the material support charge, giving no explanation and declining to comment afterward.^[3]

Mr. Salah’s attorney said that this was an “astounding” development, and the announcement “came at a hearing after [he] asked US District Judge Amy J. St. Eve to press prosecutors to turn over background material on a prospective government witness, Jack Mustafa.”^[4] Specifically, he requested how much the FBI had paid Mr. Mustafa, as well as Mr. Mustafa’s arrest record; at that point, AUSA Joseph M. Ferguson said that the government wanted the charges dropped, with prejudice, and that Mr. Mustafa would be withdrawn as a witness.^[5]

Mr. Salah, along with Abdelhaleem Ashqar, were accused of raising funds to pay for a Hamas terror campaign against the Israeli government.^[6]

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[1] Mike Robinson, Feds Drop Count in Hamas Terrorism Trial, AP (via Yahoo!), Sep. 22, 2006.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] In Surprise Move, Feds Drop One of Three Counts in Hamas Terrorism Case, AP (via FoxNews), Sep. 22, 2006.