Posted on 05/25/2004 9:52:58 AM PDT by billorites
PORTLAND, Ore. - Offering a rare public apology, the FBI admitted mistakenly linking an American lawyer’s fingerprint to one found near the scene of a terrorist bombing in Spain, a blunder that led to his imprisonment for two weeks.
The apology Monday came hours after a judge dismissed the case against Brandon Mayfield, who had been held as a material witness in the Madrid bombings case, which killed 191 people and injured about 2,000 others.
Mayfield, a 37-year-old convert to Islam, sharply criticized the government, calling his time behind bars “humiliating” and “embarrassing” and saying he was targeted because of his faith.
“This whole process has been a harrowing ordeal. It shouldn’t happen to anybody,” said Mayfield. “I believe I was singled out and discriminated against, I feel, as a Muslim.”
Karin Immergut, the U.S. attorney in Oregon, denied Mayfield had been a target because of his religion and maintained that the FBI had followed all laws in the case.
Court documents released Monday suggested that the mistaken arrest first sprang from an error by the FBI’s supercomputer for matching fingerprints and then was compounded by the FBI’s own analysts.
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(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
I guess there is a double standard.
"The FBI confiscated my homework...honest!"
Wouldn't you? Someone drags me off to jail due to their lousy incompetent investigation, I'd sue them into next year and beyond.
... and donating to "worthy Muslim causes."
What is it with the FBI and guys with 'field' in the last name and terrorism. Stephen Hatfield will get his apology when the FBI finally 'get' Whitey Bulger.
Have they apologised to Randy Weaver?
Ooops......
One was of course Richard Jewel, the other I was thinking about was a junk dealer in Enterprise, Alabama who had his entire home searched and torn apart with the press watching. He had absolutely nothing to do with the bombing of a federal judge which precipitated the search.
We are at war against al-Qaida/terrorism! Can't blame the FBI for looking closely at evidence. Better to err on the side of caution. These are serious times.
"He was arrested as a material witness, and held in the Multnomah County Detention Center on the chance that he might have information about the Spain bombings."
He talks of his fear - and I think of the fear of the people on the train, and other sites of terrorism. We are still judged by the friends we keep.
Absolutely.
Except for your Muslim faith, there was nothing here to tie you to the 3-11 attack.
The FBI "apology" is too little too late. If the FBI agents cannot read fingerprints, at least, they should listen to the Spanish agents who doubted the FBI results.
The FBI need a major overhaul; it can't read fingerprints, not even with the computerized programs and other expensive gadgets.
Eff you Mr Mayfield. They made a mistake and you are now free. Go ahead and sue if you want. But your victim act is a bit wearying.
Just one more reason to repeal the patriot act-
The FBI agents have committed crimes against Hatfield, such as hit-n-run, and Hatfield has been fined while the FBI agents were not given not even a nominal fine.
We the peasants are hauled to jail if leave the scene of an accident. FBI agents can assault a person with a vehicle, leave the scene of the crime, and get a medal for it.
You are full of it...go back to your hole. The Patriot Act is doing to the enemy what should be done...disabling them!
When you take terrorists like Battle for a client, in a child custody suit besides, you've added your name to the list of "terrorist companions". To take such a case which promotes the idea that "it would be great for a kid to live with his terrorist father" tells me "what" you care about. You certainly didn't care about the child.
"For the children" was the motto of Janet Reno, and I got over the "you don't care about the children" political BS a long time ago.
The Patriot Act is doing to the enemy what should be done...disabling them!
Bunk!!! Everytime a citizens rights are violated, all of our rights have been violated! The patriot act is nothing more than a controlling and unconstitutional law that should be stricken down- I will no more buy that garbage that it is for our safety- My freedom and the freedoms of every american is at stake and I can't believe that you don't see that. Unlawful search and seazure. Being locked up and labeled an enemy combatant and not being able to speak to your lawyer- all rights that you should fight to keep!!! Shame on anyone who can's see what is happening all in the name of 911, more over shame on all of the people who follow like lemmings and think once we give in a little we will be ok! All freedoms are for you to keep, and no one can take them away!!!
Well, actually, he is a victim. I have no sympathy for Muslims, but if I were tossed into jail because of somebody's mistake, I would be pretty mad.
He's a lawyer, he'll sue, he'll win something.
Hopefully, he'll take his winnings and move to Kabul or Riyadh.
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