Egypt to Bank-Roll Mohamed's Legal Team: Update

The Egyptian government is paying for the defense of Ahmed Mohamed, but this is not unusual, at least according to his federal criminal defense attorney, John Fitzgibbons.^[1] "I don't think it is unusual that a foreign government employs a lawyer, it happens all the time……The Egyptian government stands by their people, as we do," he said. "It's part of the process," Fitzgibbons says.^[2]

The Egyptian government is defending one of two University of South Florida students who are Egyptian citizens. ^[3]Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed and Youssef Samir Megahed, two Egyptian students at South Florida University, were indicted for carrying explosive materials across state lines, and one of them was charged with teaching the other how to use them for violent reasons.^[4]

Egypt will only cover Mohamed however, because Megahed has been a legal permanent resident of the United States and has lived here since he was a child.^[5] He has secured his own defense, whereas Mohamed's visit to the United States was on a student visa sponsored by the Egyptian government.^[6]

The government is asserting in this case that when Mohamed and Yusef Megahed were stopped in South Carolina, they had 20 feet of fuse, a box of .22-caliber bullets, a drill, several gallons of gasoline, PVC piping and gun powder; additionally police found as a laptop that allegedly had a YouTube video showing how to make a detonator.^[7] The FBI is asserting that these items evidence intent to harm the public, this assertion seems to be based on the fact that the YouTube video was made in reference to hurting American troops.^[8]

Federal criminal defense attorney Douglas McNabb has previously written about this terrorism case here.

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^[1] Mike Deeson, Egypt hires lawyer for USF student accused of terrorism, www.tampabays10.com, October 4, 2007, available at http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=64583 (last visited October 4, 2007).
^[2] Id.
^[3] Elaine Silvestrini, Egypt Taps VIP Counsel, The Tampa Tribune, October 4, 2007, available at http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBZG80MC7F.html (last visited October 4, 2007).
^[4] AP Staff, Two Egyptian students in Florida charged with terror-related crimes, Associated Press Newswire, August 31, 2007, available at available at LEXIS, News Library, Wire News Services File
^[5] Silvestrini, supra note 3.
^[6] Id.
^[7] AP Staff, supra note 4.
^[8] Id.