Terror trial against ex-sailor starts today

[unhappycamper]

Terror trial against ex-sailor starts today
By John Christoffersen - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 25, 2008 6:28:24 EST

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The trial of a former Navy sailor on terrorism charges starts Monday, offering a glimpse into how prosecutors say an American serviceman communicated with suspected terrorists over the Internet while on duty and leaked information that could have doomed his own ship.

Prosecutors allege that Hassan Abu-Jihaad sent details of the location and vulnerabilities of a Navy battle group to suspected terrorism supporters in London.

“I think it’s a very important case,” said Michael Greenberger, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security at the University of Maryland. “If we have members of our military who are aggressively passing on secrets to terrorists, that’s cause for concern. It’s a very aggressive act which would have brought real danger to the United States.”

Abu-Jihaad, 32, of Phoenix, has pleaded not guilty to charges he provided material support to terrorists with intent to kill U.S. citizens and disclosed classified information relating to the national defense. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Abu-Jihaad, an American-born Muslim convert formerly known as Paul R. Hall, was a signalman before he received an honorable discharge from the Navy in 2002. He worked in a UPS warehouse in Phoenix and has two young children, friends said.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_240208_sailor_terror/