A US federal court threw out the case against an American lawyer once linked to the Madrid train bombings, and the FBI apologized for a fingerprint-identification error that led to his arrest.
The court's action lifts a cloud of suspicion that has surrounded attorney Brandon Mayfield since his arrest May 6. The 37-year-old convert to Islam sharply criticized the government after the announcement, calling his time behind bars "humiliating" and "embarrassing" and saying he was targeted because of his faith.
PHOTO: AFP
"I am a Muslim, an American, and an ex-officer of the US military," he said at a news conference on Monday. "I believe I was singled out and discriminated against, I feel, as a Muslim."
FBI officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, had said that Mayfield's fingerprint matched one found on a bag of detonators near a train station in Madrid in the March 11 commuter train bombings, which killed 191 people and injured 2,000 others. But last week, Spanish authorities said the fingerprints of an Algerian man were on the bag.
"The FBI apologizes to Mr. Mayfield and his family for the hardships that this matter has caused," the bureau said in a statement issued from Washington.
Robert Jordan, the FBI agent in charge of Oregon, said the bureau would review its practices on fingerprint analyses.
Jordan said the FBI's initial determination about Mayfield's fingerprint was "based on an image of substandard quality."
Mayfield, a former Army lieutenant, was released from custody last week after the fingerprint announcement by Spanish officials. But he was not altogether cleared of suspicion at the time; the government said he remained a "material witness" and put restrictions on his movements. Those restrictions were lifted on Monday.
A statement posted on the US District Court's Web site said: "Due to the misidentification by the FBI of a fingerprint, the court orders the material witness proceeding dismissed. The court orders all property seized to be returned to the material witness."
Furthermore, the court said that all documents in the case would be unsealed.
Karin Immergut, the US 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.
Steven Wax, the public defender who represented Mayfield, said Mayfield may sue the government.
Lawyers for Mayfield also said they would call for an investigation into leaks to the media in the case, as well as a probe into FBI actions.
FRAUD ALLEGED: The leader of an opposition alliance made allegations of electoral irregularities and called for a protest in Tirana as European leaders are to meet Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party scored a large victory in parliamentary elections, securing him his fourth term, official results showed late on Tuesday. The Socialist Party won 52.1 percent of the vote on Sunday compared with 34.2 percent for an alliance of opposition parties led by his main rival Sali Berisha, according to results released by the Albanian Central Election Commission. Diaspora votes have yet to be counted, but according to initial results, Rama was also leading there. According to projections, the Socialist Party could have more lawmakers than in 2021 elections. At the time, it won 74 seats in the
EUROPEAN FUTURE? Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says only he could secure EU membership, but challenges remain in dealing with corruption and a brain drain Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama seeks to win an unprecedented fourth term, pledging to finally take the country into the EU and turn it into a hot tourist destination with some help from the Trump family. The artist-turned-politician has been pitching Albania as a trendy coastal destination, which has helped to drive up tourism arrivals to a record 11 million last year. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also joined in the rush, pledging to invest US$1.4 billion to turn a largely deserted island into a luxurious getaway. Rama is expected to win another term after yesterday’s vote. The vote would
CANCER: Jose Mujica earned the moniker ‘world’s poorest president’ for giving away much of his salary and living a simple life on his farm, with his wife and dog Tributes poured in on Tuesday from across Latin America following the death of former Uruguayan president Jose “Pepe” Mujica, an ex-guerrilla fighter revered by the left for his humility and progressive politics. He was 89. Mujica, who spent a dozen years behind bars for revolutionary activity, lost his battle against cancer after announcing in January that the disease had spread and he would stop treatment. “With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica. President, activist, guide and leader. We will miss you greatly, old friend,” Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi wrote on X. “Pepe, eternal,” a cyclist shouted out minutes later,
A Croatian town has come up with a novel solution to solve the issue of working parents when there are no public childcare spaces available: pay grandparents to do it. Samobor, near the capital, Zagreb, has become the first in the country to run a “Grandmother-Grandfather Service,” which pays 360 euros (US$400) a month per child. The scheme allows grandparents to top up their pension, but the authorities also hope it will boost family ties and tackle social isolation as the population ages. “The benefits are multiple,” Samobor Mayor Petra Skrobot told reporters. “Pensions are rather low and for parents it is sometimes
RSS