In the crucial move for national security and international law enforcement, the United States Department of Justice announced on Friday that Zubayr Al-Bakoush, a major contributor to the 2012 attack on the United States diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, is in U.S. custody. At about 3:00 AM on Friday morning, Al-Bakoush arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a news conference. His arrival builds up toward an 11-year investigation after a sealed complaint was filed against him in 2015.
The Charges
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who will take over the prosecution, unsealed an eight-count indictment against Al-Bakoush. The charges are harsh and consist of:
First-Degree Murder: Particularly for the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and State Department official Sean Smith.
Attempted Murder: The attack on State Department Special Agent Scott Wicklund.
Terrorism and Arson: Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists resulting in death; and the malicious destruction of a federal building.
“That crime against our country has never stopped serving justice," Attorney General Bondi said, explaining that the 14 years had not eroded the government’s determination to prosecute the suspects.
A Historical Context
The Sept. 11, 2012, assault stands as one of the most politically charged incidents in recent American history. The joint assault by armed militants killed four Americans, including two CIA contractors, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, in the secondary assault on a nearby annex in a coordinated strike.
Al-Bakoush is part of a string of high-profile arrests related to the event. Two other successful prosecutions that have followed this incident are Ahmed Abu Khattala and Mustafa al-Imam, who were arrested in Libya and were found guilty in U.S. federal courts.
What’s Next?
FBI Director Kash Patel and DOJ officials declined to give details about where Al-Bakoush was stopped or about what foreign allies helped him out with the operation. Al-Bakoush is set to appear in a Washington D.C. federal court shortly. On top counts, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
