The U.S. has arrested Zubayr Al-Bakoush, alleged to be one of the leaders of the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, who said he has “complete trust in the court and jury” during his first hearing in federal court Friday in Washington, D.C.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Al-Bakoush’s arrest earlier Friday. Bondi said that Al-Bakoush was charged with charges of murder, terror and arson, all related to the 2012 attack.
“Zubayr Al-Bakoush will now face American justice on American soil. We will prosecute this alleged terrorist to the fullest extent of the law,” Bondi said on Friday. “Let this case serve as a reminder: If you commit a crime against the American people anywhere in this world, President Trump’s Justice Department will find you. It might not happen overnight, but it will happen. You can run, but you cannot hide.”
BENGHAZI ‘MASTERMIND’ RESENTENCED TO 28 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTACK THAT KILLED 4 AMERICANS
Hours later, in his initial court appearance, Al-Bakoush told a federal judge that he has “complete trust in the court and jury,” adding that he has “confidence for justice.”
He faces eight criminal counts, including terrorism, murder and arson and, if convicted, could face the death penalty or up to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
In court, Al-Bakoush seemed to be breathing heavily at times and told U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya that he is 58 years old, and has a bachelor’s degree in library sciences.
Upadhyaya offered to notify Libyan consular officers and Al-Bakoush replied, “Yes.”
Speaking softly, he was assisted by an interpreter who joined the hearing remotely.
Court documents obtained by Fox News lay out the actions that the government believes Al-Bakoush performed on the day of the attack. The documents state that Al-Bakoush drove to the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi on the evening of Sept. 11, 2012.
He and his conspirators were allegedly armed with “assault rifles, other firearms and explosive devices,” according to the court documents. The court documents state that Al-Bakoush entered the compound at approximately 10:01 p.m. before conducting “surveillance activity” in the area. Al-Bakoush is also accused of attempting to enter vehicles that belonged to Mission staff.
The attack on the mission unfolded over the course of 13 hours and resulted in the deaths of four Americans.
During the news conference, Bondi also took a swipe at former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who infamously said “what difference does it make?” when asked in a hearing about the cause of the deadly attack.
Fox News exclusively obtained footage of Al-Bakoush’s arrival in the U.S.
Patel said that Al-Bakoush was arrested “overseas,” but did not give details on the exact location where the alleged terrorist was apprehended.
“I’m extremely thankful to the CIA and Director Ratcliffe and our other law enforcement partners for making sure that the world knows that if you kill an American citizen in an act of terrorism, we will hunt you down,” Patel said on Friday.
The FBI director credited President Donald Trump’s support for law enforcement, saying that the president “has given law enforcement the resources we need to take the fight across the world.” Patel noted the department’s success in capturing individuals on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
Pirro, who will be prosecuting the case, noted that Al-Bakoush was first charged by complaint in 2015, which was sealed for 11 years. She said that an unsealed eight-count indictment charged Al-Bakoush with the murders of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, State Department employee Sean Smith and CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. The indictment also includes a charge for the attempted murder of State Department Special Agent Scott Wickland, according to Pirro.
“The Benghazi saga was a painful one for Americans. It has stayed with all of us. And let me be very clear, there are more of them out there. Time will not stop us from going after these predators, no matter how long it takes, in order to fulfill our obligation to those families who suffered horrific pain at the hands of these violent terrorists,” Pirro said. “President Trump will make sure that the cavalry comes for Americans, no matter where they are in this world.”
On Sept. 11, 2012, a terror attack on the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, left four dead. A group of assailants armed with AK-47 rifles, grenades and other weapons, stormed the compound and began shooting, setting fires and breaking into buildings. Stevens, Smith, Doherty and Woods were all killed in the attack.
Upadhyaya tentatively set a detention hearing for Feb. 11, but that date could get moved because Al-Bakoush is getting a different attorney. The Federal Public Defender’s office has a conflict and has contacted a defense to take the case.
