US law experts question timing of Qaeda treason charge J. Turley

[rodeodance]

US law experts question timing of Qaeda treason charge

by Charlotte Raab Fri Oct 13, 4:39 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The first treason charge against an American since the World War II era has puzzled some law experts who suspect that political motives were behind the move less than a month before congressional elections.

Adam Gadahn, 28, was charged with treason Wednesday for appearing in Al-Qaeda propaganda videos, putting him in a small club of less than 40 people who have been prosecuted for betraying the United States.

..........

"There's a real effort in the (Bush) administration to keep fear alive in the country," said Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University Law School professor.

Turley said prosecutors could have charged Gadahn with providing material support to terrorists.

The treason charge, he said, "is for public consumption."

[Kagemusha]

1. Yes, the material support one's the proper charge.

Though you can charge people with such thin stuff under that law that it may not be saying much.

[WCGreen]

2. Boy, they are desperate now aren't they....

A blip on the news screen is all this is...

[dubyaD40web]

3. Link?

[acmejack]

4. I couldn't find it...

Usually I can. Here's one that's close: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/12/AR2006101201585.html

The decision to charge alleged al-Qaeda propagandist Adam Gadahn with treason is something of a gamble by the U.S. government, which has not pursued such a case in more than 50 years and has a mixed track record for convictions over the course of American history, according to legal experts and historic accounts.

Gadahn, 28, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Santa Ana, Calif., based on his alleged appearance in numerous al-Qaeda videotapes calling for the death of Americans and for attacks on U.S. targets.

The Justice Department this week announced the first treason indictment in more than 50 years, against Adam Gadahn, an alleged al-Qaeda propagandist who is a fugitive overseas. There have been only about 30 treason prosecutions throughout U.S. history because of the high threshold for a conviction. Here are a few of the most well-known cases:

Many legal experts said yesterday that although Gadahn may be a suitable candidate for a treason charge, federal prosecutors may face serious difficulties in securing a conviction if he is ever brought to trial.

[Moderator]

5. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2559756