Big freaking deal. The key word is briefly, and it still doesn't excuse any crimes he may have committed.
"Hey, I was an FBI informant for three months back from October 2000 to February 2001."
"Great. Did you commit some crimes before, during or after that time?"
"Yes."
"You're under arrest, dirtball."
It's not meant to excuse him.
From the article:
"The government acknowledged that defendant Al-Arian was a source of information for a brief period of time," assistant U.S. Attorney Terry Zitek wrote in the response. There were no additional details.
Al-Arian's attorneys wanted the government to provide dates, times, places and circumstances that Al-Arian was used as a source, and any evaluations of the information he provided - information they believe will help clear him.
The government responded it has no "duty to produce information the defendant already knows." "
If he was not aware that meeting with "congressmen and top aides in the Bush and Clinton administrations" would require him giving some type of information he's a true moron.
And no doubt he was a bit scared when GWBush won the Presidency in 2000, because everyone he knew voted for Al Gore.
He needs some prison time.