Women Criminal Defense Attorneys: Michelle Peterson Represents Benghazi Suspect

Federal Public Defender Michelle Peterson has been appointed to represent Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the suspect who was brought to D.C. district court to face charges related to the Benghazi attack. Peterson appeared in court with her client during the recent bond hearing and conceded that pretrial detention is appropriate based on his status as a foreign national, but strongly criticized the lack of evidence against her client and the Government’s failure to turn over evidence which has essentially left her and her client unable to challenge the charges.

“It is incredibly difficult for us to defend someone against a charge when no evidence has been provided,” Peterson told the court. “We are left to glean from press reports what the government evidence is.”

Additionally, Peterson said that the little disclosure she had received that same morning contained “no evidence of direct involvement", and “There was no suggestion that he was one of these 20 individuals [said to have carried out the first attack] – their allegation appears to be that he knew these individuals, not that he was directly involved himself.” When addressing the argument of his dangerousness due to the fact that her client was armed when arrested she stated, “This is a broad stretch … Libya has been in a constant state of rebellion, and it is not at all unusual to be armed.”

I know very little about the Government’s case in this instance but I already have a feeling that precious constitutional and due process rights could be at risk in the name of politics. There is such a powerful political tug of war occurring over Benghazi as we approach the next campaign for Presidency. It has the makings of the perfect witch-hunt. It is obvious from what I am reading that Michelle Peterson is a tenacious advocate and up for the fight, but unfortunately this case may be more about politics than it is about evidence.