The Nigerian man accused of trying to use a bomb hidden in his underwear to bring down a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas has been cooperating with investigators since last week and has provided fresh intelligence in multiple terrorism investigations, US officials said on Tuesday.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s cooperation could prove to be a national security victory and a political vindication for US President Barack Obama, who has been under fire from lawmakers who contend the administration botched the case by giving Abdulmutallab the right to remain silent, rather than interrogating him as a military prisoner.
In the days following the failed bombing, a pair of FBI agents flew to Nigeria and persuaded Abdulmutallab’s family to help them.
When the agents returned to the US, Abdulmutallab’s family came, too, said a senior administration official briefed on the case. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.
FBI officials continue to question Abdulmutallab, working in collaboration with CIA and other intelligence agencies, the official said.
Obama has received regular updates on the interrogation, the official said.
A law enforcement official, also speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case, said Abdulmutallab had provided information about his contacts in Yemen, where an al-Qaeda branch has claimed responsibility for the failed attack.
Before the attack, the US regarded the Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula largely as a threat to Yemen’s stability, not within US borders. Depending on how much he knows, Abdulmutallab’s cooperation could help authorities better understand the organization.
While the interrogation continued, White House and intelligence officials quietly seethed as political rivals accused them of putting lives at risk. That criticism peaked last weekend when Republican Senator Susan Collins accused the administration of having “a blind spot when it comes to the war on terrorism.”
Collins said the administration “undoubtedly prevented the collection of valuable intelligence about future terrorist threats to our country.”
Authorities had hoped to keep Abdulmutallab’s cooperation secret while they continued to investigate his leads, but details began to trickle out during testimony on Capitol Hill, where FBI Director Robert Mueller and Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair confirmed authorities continued to get intelligence in Abdulmutallab’s case.
“It is also my understanding that Mr Abdulmutallab has provided valuable information. Is that correct?” Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein asked.
“Yes,” Mueller replied.
Mueller then confirmed that the interrogation has continued despite the fact that the suspect had been advised of his right to have a lawyer and remain silent.
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