Everytime I read about these terrorist prisoners, I wonder how Louis Pepe is doing? Remember him? Here's a press release from last year:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2004
SCHUMER SECURES VAN, AMBULETTE, HOME UPGRADES FOR NYC FEDERAL PRISON GUARD PARALYZED AND BLINDED BY BIN LADEN AIDE
Federal prison guard Louis Pepe was stabbed in the eye by top Bin Laden aide in 2000; Was booted from Federal court during terrorist's sentencing in early May 2004
Two years of Schumer pressure on Feds yields big results; Yesterday, Pepe was able to use new ambulette to visit dentist for first time in five years
US Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that his office has secured badly-needed Federal help for Louis Pepe, the Federal prison guard who suffered brain damage, partial paralyzation, and partial blindness after a former top aide to Osama bin Laden stabbed him in the eye when Mr. Pepe was working at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan.
After two years of pressure from Schumer's office, the federal Workman's Compensation board is finally helping the Pepe family, and yesterday Pepe was able to use a new ambulette Schumer secured to visit dentist for first time in five years
"When I heard that Louis Pepe, a hero and one of the first victims of al Qaeda terror in the United States, was being denied his federal benefits, I had just one thing to say - not on my watch" Schumer said today. "Louis Pepe is a credit to all prison guards, to his family and to his country, and the last thing I was going to do was stand by while some bureaucracy denied him the help he earned."
Four years ago, Louis Pepe, a federal security guard, was assigned to a high-security wing at the Metropolitan Correction Center (MCC) reserved for some of the most dangerous international terrorists being held in federal custody including several alleged al Qaeda operatives. On November 1, 2000, Pepe was brutally attacked by Mamdouh Mahmud Salim, a former top aide to Osama bin Laden who was awaiting trial on charges that included attempting to purchase nuclear weapons components.
Salim used hot sauces purchased in the prison to temporarily blind Mr. Pepe and then thrust a sharpened plastic comb three inches into Pepe’s left eye, resulting in severe brain damage, partial paralysis, the loss of his left eye and the loss of 60 percent of the vision in his right eye. Notes later found in Salim’s cell indicate that the attack may have been part of a plan to seize hostages in an effort to break out of jail.
Salim still faces trial and a possible life sentence on conspiracy charges in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa. The attacks killed 224 people, including 12 Americans. Salim has also said he attacked Mr. Pepe to try to get the prison keys and stab his two court-appointed lawyers waiting in a nearby conference room, so that the judge in the terrorism case would be forced to appoint him new lawyers.
At the time of the attack, Pepe weighed 300 pounds and was a member of the elite sqaud assigned to the high security wing called the MCC Enforcers Disturbance Control. After dozens of operations, Pepe has lost more than 100 pounds and remains partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. While working at MCC, Pepe used his $47,000 a year salary to help support his parents. He now receives only 2/3 of that salary under worker’s compensation in addition to Social Security payments and the Pepe family now struggles to pay for his heath care costs.
On May 4, 2004, Salim was sentenced Monday to 32 years behind bars for stabbing Mr. Pepe. At the time, US District Judge Deborah A. Batts ordered Mr. Pepe removed from the courtroom after several outbursts. As he was taken out, he shouted: "I'm dead! You understand that? I'm dead!"
In May 2002, Schumer's office learned from Mr. Pepe's family that the federal Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), a division of the US Department of Labor, was dragging its heels in providing aid for which Mr. Pepe qualified as a former federal employee severely injured in the course of his work. Specifically, the Pepe family sought help with upgrades to Mr. Pepe's living quarters like widened interior doors to accomodate a wheelchair and bathroom renovations, and a help with transportation so Mr Pepe could more easily go to his many doctors appointments. Schumer's office immediately began a long process of inquiries and pressure on the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs to provide Mr. Pepe with the help he needs.
Yesterday, Schumer received confirmation from Office of Workers' Compensation Programs that they have approved the modification of a wheelchair-equipped van for Mr. Pepe's use, and have already secured two bids on the project. (Federal acquisition rules generally require government agencies to get at least three competing bids for a project before one can be selected.)
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs also told Schumer that they have approved upgrades to Mr. Pepe's home, and have also secured two bids on that project.
And the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs has already approved use of an ambulette for Mr. Pepe to use to travel to and from doctors appointments. In fact, Mr. Pepe's family reports that yesterday (Tuesday, July 6) Mr. Pepe was able to use an ambulette to visit the dentist for the first time in five years.
"Most of us dread going to the dentist, but for Louis Pepe it was the kind of thing that he dreamed about for years. After all Mr. Pepe has gone through, it's good to know that sometimes a faceless bureaucracy can have a heart," Schumer said.
###