[T Ruth]

It looks like the taxpayers have the privilge of paying for the defense:

02/11/2017 Attorney Appointed/ Attorney AKINTOYE, HANNAH representing Defendant (Criminal) ASKARYAR, BILAL A as of 02/11/2017

02/11/2017 CJA Contribution Ordered

[SSS Two]

Hannah Akintoye was indeed appointed as a public defender for Askaryar, but Askaryar has since retained two attorneys from high powered law firm Miller & Chevalier. I'm guessing that those attorneys -- Mark Rochon and Aiysha Hussain are representing Askaryar pro bono.

Interestingly, one of Askaryar's attorney has supported an Islamic terrorist in the past. In 2003, Aiysha Hussain said that she wanted to raise awareness of "the situation of American Muslims in the U.S. [and] Dr. Sami Al-Arian's case" and raise money for Al-Arian's legal defense. In 2006, Al-Arian pleaded guilty to contributing services benefiting a terrorist group. Al-Arian was deported after serving his sentence.