Community Newspaper Publisher Found Guilty of Being Agent for Saddam Hussein

Associated Press ^ | Jan 12, 2004

[wallcrawlr]

CHICAGO - A community newspaper publisher accused of spying on Iraqi dissidents in the United States was found guilty Monday of serving as an unregistered agent for Saddam Hussein. The jury took less than two hours to convict Khaled Abdel-Latif Dumeisi after the weeklong trial.

"This sends an important message that people can't come to our country and spy on their fellow residents," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said.

Dumeisi, 61, was convicted of failing to obey a federal law that requires agents of foreign governments to register with the Justice Department.

Prosecutors maintained that the Palestinian-born Dumeisi spied on Iraqi dissidents because he was desperate for money and admired Saddam Hussein as the only true friend of the Palestinian cause in the Mideast. They cited evidence of at least $3,000 in payments from the Iraqis to the debt-ridden publisher.

The jury also convicted him of conspiring not to register, lying to an immigration officer and lying to a federal grand jury. Dumeisi faces up to 25 years in prison at sentencing March 30, but he is likely to get much less time under federal sentencing guidelines.

Dumeisi was not charged with espionage, nor was he accused of terrorism.

His tiny suburban newspaper, Al Mahjar, was full of articles critical of U.S. Mideast policy and praising the now-deposed Iraqi leader.

Prosecutors launched the trial by showing a videotape of a speech Dumeisi gave at a birthday party in honor of Saddam at the Iraqi mission to the United Nations in New York. Prosecutors said the U.N. mission was a hotbed of intelligence agents.

In the speech, he referred to Saddam as "our great leader" and "our inspired leader" and praised him for missile attacks against Israel, "the Zionist stronghold," at the time of the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Witnesses said Dumeisi received training in spying on a trip to Baghdad and even got a pen that was actually a combination tape recorder and camera.

During his closing argument, Dumeisi's lawyer urged jurors not to let his client's praise for Saddam rush them into a conviction, even though they might find his views "despicable."

"Reaching a verdict of not guilty does not in any way endorse his very dubious opinions," John Murphy said. "Quite frankly, I don't like them either."

[Alouette]

What did we do to people who were active agents of Hitler and Tojo during World War II? It seems to me this guy should get the same treatment.

FRmail me to be added or removed from this pro-Israel ping list.

WARNING: This is a high volume ping list

[RaceBannon]

How about we add Jane Fonda to that list of people who should be tried?

[FreedomPoster]

I suspect the statute of limitations has run out on that one. Otherwise, I'm all for it.

[Grampa Dave]

So how were his articles different than the hate GW and pro $oddomite articles in the NY Slime, Washington Compost and the LA Slimes?

There was probably no basic difference.

[blackdog]

Now if all those spies for China would please register with the State Department, that should tie up state for about twenty years of backlogged work.

[Bogey78O]

I'm suprised that with most Vietnam vets being about to go into the sunset some vet with nothing to lose hasn't gone after the people who spit on him back in the 60s.

[prairiebreeze]

and even got a pen that was actually a combination tape recorder and camera.

"My name is Bond. James Bond. Bwahahaha!

Prairie

[VulgarWit]

He wasn't convicted for his writing. He was convicted of being an unregistered agent of Iraq.. basically if they hadn't payed him he could've kept publishing as long as he wanted (assuming the other charges.. lying to immigration et al were not brought)

[Imal]

Yet another valuable contribution to humanity from the peace-loving "Palestinian" Arabs.

[Khurkris]

"I'm suprised that with most Vietnam vets being about to go into the sunset..."

A bit premature there bucko. Not to say continuing the "dangerous Viet Nam Vet ready to explode myth."

[weegee]

There were only about a dozen cases of treason tried against Americans in WWII (so I hear) and about half were broadcasters (Axis Sally and others).

There was concern over a fifth column and sabotage but I don't know how many people were prosecuted for such crimes.

[cmsgop]

Did he get a Job Offer from the Washington Post Yet ??????

[Bogey78O]

Not intended that way. Most people when their life is over tend to do things they've always wanted to do. I figure if I had cancer I'd at least want to slap 1 Senate Democrat before I die.

[Khurkris]

I can certainly agree with that one...lol.

[MinuteGal]

Why isn't he being deported immediately for lying to an immigration officer? This guy was an active enemy agent for hire.

What about these ancient WWII German geezers living here for decades who get deported for lying about being prison camp guards sixty years ago while serving in the German army? Why is this Chicago spy being coddled?

What's sauce for das goose should be sauce for al goat.

Leni

[nickcarraway]

ping

[Destro]

Now if we can get those on the Saudi payroll before a court of law (and those are a lot of important people to boot)

[risk]

bttt

[Lazamataz]

So how were his articles different than the hate GW and pro $oddomite articles in the NY Slime, Washington Compost and the LA Slimes?

LOL! I love ya, Grampa.