Zazi breaks off talks with FBI, calls reports of terror ties 'nonsense'

The Denver Post ^ | Posted: 09/19/2009 10:09:59 AM MDT Updated: 09/19/2009 12:04:18 PM MDT | Kirk Mitchell, Bruce Finley and Felisa Cardona

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Aurora man targeted in an anti-

terrorism investigation and his attorney abruptly broke off a planned meeting with FBI agents this morning.

"Mr. (Najibullah) Zazi and (attorney) Mr. (Art) Folsom will not be meeting with the FBI today," Folsom's spokeswoman Wendy Aiello told The Denver Post Saturday morning. "No future meetings are planned at this time."

She said they've decided that it is in Zazi's best interest given the progress of negotiations so far, Aiello said.

"Certainly there are inaccuracies in the reporting over the last 24 hours," she said.

In a phone interview with the Denver Post this morning, Zazi, 24, said during lengthy interviews with the FBI over the last three days he has not

Extras

• Watch video of Najibullah Zazi's father Mohammed Zazi as he leaves the federal building, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009.

• View slide show of terror investigation of Aurora man.

• Watch a video interview with Najibullah Zazi's attorney on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009.

• Watch video as the FBI raids Najibullah Zazi's apartment in Aurora on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009.

• Watch video as the FBI searched a second residence in connection with the anti-terror probe in Aurora on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009.

• Watch video as the FBI raids Najibullah Zazi's apartment in Aurora on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009.

• Watch video as the FBI raids suspected apartments in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.

admitted any link to the terrorist group, to participation in insurgency training in Pakistan or to involvement in a terrorist plot.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

"It's not true," Zazi said. "I have nothing to hide. It's all media publications reporting whatever they want. They have been reporting all this nonsense."

[ABQHispConservative]

I wonder if this is “window dressing”. Meaning, they are trying to show that they can prosecute the War on Terror, rather than try to sweep it under the rug.

[ozzymandus]

Sounds like his ACLU lawyer told him to STFU.

[dools007]

Our little Islamo terrorist hears footsteps coming up from behind. The message is: Stop talking with FBI—or else. When one is the subject of one of those fatwas, it takes on a whole new meaning—so to speak.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Anyone surprised?....see this related thread as well as the keyword list:

ZAZI

Muslims in Colorado Uneasy Over Terror Inquiry

[darkwing104]

Curiouser and curiouser

[Brad from Tennessee]

[”Certainly there are inaccuracies in the reporting over the last 24 hours,” she (Zazi’s lawyer) said.]

It doesn't matter. The news of Zazi’s “cooperation” has been broadcast around the world. He's being forced to choose sides and he knows at least the FBI won't behead him.

[Joe Boucher]

How much are we spending on this crap?
How much wasted?

[La Lydia]

Why, is it “in Zazi’s best interest given the progress of negotiations so far,” Aiello said...Why is he negotiating anything? If he is innocent of wrong doing, and no one knows yet that he is guilty, what are they negotiating?

[Grut]

Let's not presume guilt: remember all those trumped-up charges of child-molesting rings in the 80s? Or the FBI's own persecution of Richard Jewell? Maybe the guy's a terrorist, but also maybe he's just the FBI's sloppily-written ticket to free (for them) PR.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well....they say they have intercepted calls with him from know al-qaeda operatives in Pakistan....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

from know >>>>>from Known

[nufsed]

Maybe they should meet him at Starbucks and pick up the tab so he won’t be uncomfortable. This guy will be out of the country by tomorrow night.

[nufsed]

You mean our government is intercepting phone calls of private citizens. Shocking. I hope the NY Times will look into this.

[nufsed]

Have we asked the guy to PRETTY please talk to us?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More from ABC News....and Drudge:

Terror Suspect's Computer Said to Show Sports Stadiums, Fashion Sites ,/b>

*****************************EXCERPT*******************************

Officials Report Denver Man Sent Texts Suggesting Attack Coming; 'Wedding Cake' Is Ready

By RICHARD ESPOSITO, BRIAN ROSS and CLAYTON SANDELL
Sept. 19, 2009

A computer belonging to alleged al Qaeda suspect Najibullah Zazi showed he had researched baseball and football stadiums and sites used in the recent Fashion Week event in New York City, law enforcement officials tell ABCNews.com.

Najibullah Zazi leaves his apartment in Aurora, Colo., for a meeting with his attorney in this...

Najibullah Zazi leaves his apartment in Aurora, Colo., for a meeting with his attorney in this Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, file photo. As the 24-year-old was being questioned for a fourth straight day by FBI agents about his alleged ties to al Qaeda, law enforcement officials said the Denver man's computer showed he had researched baseball and football stadiums and sites used in the recent Fashion Week event in New York City.

(Ed Andrieski/AP Photo)

Zazi, 24, was scheduled to be questioned for a fourth straight day today by FBI agents, but failed to show up this morning. Asked if his client had been taken into custody overnight, Zazi's lawyer Arthur Folsom said, "Read between the lines."

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE NEW YORK TERROR PLOT AND OTHER TERRORISM STORIES.

While officials say they do not know the targets of the alleged plot, the contents of Zazi's computer are considered a valuable insight into what he might have been planning.

After first denying any ties to al Qaeda, Zazi has now admitted certain ties developed during trips to Pakistan, law enforcement officials told ABCNews.com.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See #16.

[Secret Agent Man]

The FBI was running the Obama filter at the time, which translated the suspect’s words:

“Of course it’s true. I am hiding my real intentions. The media are useful idiots. Every once in awhile they get it right, unfortunately that’s what happened in my case.”

Upon hearing what the Obama filter captured, Zazi is still in FBI custody. Eating well, in an A/C colled cell, watching lots of different cable shows and five times a day wailing his head off and hunched over at the armpit called Mecca.

[nufsed]

Waiting for the Times to whine about illegal wire taps.

[TADSLOS]

Yeah, this doesn’t pass the smell test. I hope the FBI is letting him run out line to see which way he goes and this isn’t some goat rope caused by the FBI tripping the trigger on him prematurely.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

LOL!...

Some earlier details from ABC:

Alleged NYC Terror Plot Suspect Returns Home After FBI Raid

******************************EXCERPTS*******************************

Najibullah Zazi's Denver Home Was Raided as FBI Questioned Him for 8 1/2 Hours

FBI agents have raided the suburban Denver home of the man authorities say is at the center of an alleged al Qaeda plot to carry out attacks in New York City.

Share

Raids in New York reveal new information about a suspected plot.

The agents arrived at the home of Najibullah Zazi late Wednesday afternoon and left at about 11:23 p.m. One of the agents told ABC News the squad was carrying out a search warrant but declined to comment further.

Agents came down the stairs from the third-floor apartment, some carrying paper bags and microwave-size objects wrapped in brown paper that were loaded into FBI vehicles. FBI officials would not comment on what they found.

****************************************snip************************************

Earlier in the evening, agents also finished a search at a house on Ontario Place in Aurora that records show is occupied by Zazi's aunt, Rabia Zazi. The door to the residence had heavy damage from being smashed open when agents arrived. Nobody answered repeated knocks on the door. FBI Special Agent Kathy Wright would not comment on details of the investigation, but confirmed that the two locations were the only ones searched Wednesday.

Zazi's attorney, Art Folsom, said he and his client met for more than eight hours Wednesday with investigators at FBI headquarters in Denver. Folsom described the questioning as cordial and detailed but declined to go into specifics. Zazi is scheduled to meet with the FBI again this afternoon.

Folsom insisted that his client is not under arrest and is not being called a suspect. He downplayed reports that bomb-making materials were found in Zazi's apartment.

"If they had found something, would you let a guy go if he's already sitting in your building?" Folsom said.

[darkwing104]

Someone is getting pretty sloppy by leaking this to the press.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More from link at #20...:

*******************************EXCERPT****************************

Law enforcement officials said agents discovered 14 brand-new black backpacks in the New York raids, leading to concern the men may have been planning to use the backpacks to carry suicide bombs.

The men responsible for the attacks on the London subways and the Madrid commuter rail system used backpacks to carry their homemade explosives.

*********************************

HIGLIGHT

Authorities say Zazi brought with him instructions on how to build a bomb using household chemicals.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See #23...too...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Another link to ABC:

Alleged NYC Terror Plot Suspect to Be Questioned for 3rd Day

**************************************EXCERPT********************************

'Everything We Are Going Over, We Are Going Over in Excruciating Detail,' His Lawyer Said

>
Sept. 18, 2009

[Gritty]

How’s that “religion of piece” thingy working out for us, folks?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Maybe we will get some answers tomorrow on the Sunday Talk Shows..../s

[Grut]

Well, it sounds like evidence but it's all "officials said" and none of the actions you'd expect if the claimed evidence was taken seriously. Like I said, keep Richard Jewell in mind; there was a lot of this kind of 'evidence' in his case, too. Or in that whole JonBenet Ramsey mess.

[Brilliant]

Zazi: “I have broken off talks with the FBI. The torture did not work... The FBI agents would not tell me anything, no matter how much I tortured them.”

[Jonah Johansen]

I hope I am wrong but I have this fear that some of the lawyers who represent these terrorist wanna-be types; might conceal information concerning immanent 9- 11 like attacks.
I can imagine them hearing from their clients about specific airline flights that will be blown up the next day and the lawyer not passing the information on to the FBI and somehow justyfying this on “ethical” grounds.

If we don’t already have one, there needs to be a very clear cut law that such a failure on the part of a lawyer would mean their arrest and prosecution as an accessory to murder.
Please tell me that my fear is unfounded or overwrought.

[Marine_Uncle]

If this guy was so innocent why would he had taken trips to Pakistan. Why would he admit ties where established. Of course we are not getting much of anything as to what he has said to the FBI or things he has outright denied.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

He does have family in Pakistan....his wife.....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

FBI didn't like that....just posted a bit ago:

Report: NYC Terror Plot Suspect, Father in Custody

[La Lydia]

You are right. Ever hear about Lynne Stewart?

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=861

[Grut]

Arrested is one thing, charged is another, convicted is a third. I remain cautious about this not being a PR ploy by the feds: they’ve been known to sin before.

[Grut]

I remain cautious about this not being a PR ploy by the feds....

"Or just sheer, bit-between-the-teeth wrongheadedness," I should have added.

[Marine_Uncle]

"He does have family in Pakistan....his wife....."
Roger.