FBI Says Saudis Buy Off Witnesses

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The Saudi government has been paying for lawyers, and in some cases for bond, for hundreds of its citizens who have been detained, prosecuted or questioned inside the United States during the crackdown on terrorism. The FBI openly calls the practice tantamount to buying off witnesses.

Saudi officials said they have spent more than $1 million to provide American lawyers for those detained or questioned here since the Sept. 11 attacks. Most, they said, are students being held on technical violations of immigration laws.

The Saudis acknowledged concerns by the Justice Department and FBI, but said it was essential that Saudis who are unfamiliar with the American legal system be provided with good lawyers to defend themselves.

"Our view is give them lawyers and let the process take its course, and if they are found guilty of crimes they will pay their price and would have had fair representation. If not, they should be released," said Adel al-Jubeir, Crown Prince Abdullah's foreign policy adviser.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-saudis-terrorism,0,446641.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. This is kind of funny, in a sad way.

The Saudi's know our police system stinks. It is coercive and it is allowed to be, despite what anybody says. So the Saudis do the most prudent thing and get their citizens lawyers -- and this is called bribery. Hmm... everytime I think things can't possibly get more bizarre around here -- it does.

[Wwagsthedog]

2. The Saudis know how bad their own prison system is.

People incarcerated there had better have some good friends on the outside to provide simple things like food better than a daily helping of swill. Imagine the prisoner in the Wizard of ID.

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. The transition from "right to counsel" to possible privilege of counsel

is bound to have some bumpy spots.

Most of the US voting class would agree that Muslims, especially Saudis, have no rights at all, and while there may be some flurry of mild protests when the new condition is applied to white middle class Americans accused of mundane crimes, but in the end there will be a general agreement that streamlining the judicial process will empower local law enforcement officials to remove undesirables at a much lower per capita cost in dollars.

[JackSwift]

4. Another reason the FBI inspires me

is that they cannot deal with people asserting their rights.

[Nottingham]

5. Blame the LAWYERS! BLAME the FBI director

maybe he should do his job rather than let these Saudis run amok!

This sounds like an excuse :bounce: