The Obama administration and the FBI are making a big push tonight to rebut criticism of trying Abdulmutallab in American courts rather than submitting him to torture and a military tribunal by revealing that he has been cooperating with investigators for days. The claim, which is not that surprising, is that it has been precisely the use of traditional and legal investigative techniques that they’ve been able to gain his cooperation. Indeed, the intervention of his family, has apparently been key.
“One of the principal reasons why his family came back is because they had complete trust in the US system of justice and believed that Umar Farouq would be treated fairly and appropriately,” a “senior official” told ABC. “And that they would be as well.”
It’s definitely a full court press. Here are the write-ups in the NYT and from ABC.
