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Al-Arian Criminal Contempt Case To Move Forward

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The Associated Press

Published: January 16, 2009

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A judge is allowing prosecutors to continue with a criminal contempt case against a man once accused by the U.S. government of being a top Palestinian terrorist.

Former Florida professor Sami Al-Arian is charged with contempt after refusing to testify to a federal grand jury in northern Virginia, even though he'd been given immunity for his testimony.

Defense lawyers sought to quash the indictment. They argued Al-Arian was being singled out unfairly and that prosecutors had improperly drafted the paperwork compelling Al-Arian's testimony.

In earlier hearings, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema had indicated that she agreed with the defense. But at a hearing Friday in Alexandria, Brinkema rejected the defense motions and set a March 9 trial date.

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