Jonathan Turley (Dr. Al-Arian’s lead attorney), 30 June 2008
Dr. Al-Arian was arraigned today before United States District Judge Leonie Brinkema of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Columbia. In court were three of Dr. Al-Arian’s children and, despite to changes to the hearing time, supporters of Dr. Al-Arian.
Dr. Al-Arian did not enter a plea today. As I informed the Court, the first time that we were able to sit down with Dr. Al-Arian since his indictment was in the courtroom. In light of that fact, I stated that we were not prepared to enter a plea. The Court then entered a not guilty plea.
The Court scheduled a trial beginning on August 13, 2008.
Indicted, Sami Al-Arian Faces Possible Life Imprisonment
John Halliwell, Daily Kos, 1 July 2008
Last March, Sami Al-Arian was given a choice: 1) damned if you do; and 2) damned if you don’t; he chose “damned if you don’t”. Finally, a full three months after making that decision, he was formally charged last Thursday with contempt of court, a crime which has no maximum penalty. In other words, Dr. Al-Arian – a man whose innocence has been grudgingly admitted by even his worst enemies* – is now facing the possibility of life in jail all because he had the guts to stand up for what he believes in.