Feds ask judge to close courtroom to shield witness in terror trial
Federal authorities want a judge to partially close his courtroom when a confidential FBI witness testifies this fall against the accused ISIS sympathizer prosecutors say threatened to behead the witness if he squealed to law enforcement.
Alleged terrorist David Daoud Wright, 28, of Everett, told the witness in 2015 that if he learned a fellow Muslim betrayed him, Wright “would personally remove his head from his body,” according to documents filed with U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young by acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb’s office and the FBI.
Earlier this year, the authorities told Young that Wright “repeatedly expressed concern” about the witness’ testimony to a fellow inmate at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility and sought the prisoner’s help in locating the witness, whose name is known to Wright.
Public disclosure of the witness’ identity, face or background could jeopardize not only his safety, but that of his family in Yemen, parts of which ISIS controls, authorities argue.
Bradley G. Mendenhall, the FBI’s assistant director of counterterrorism in Washington, D.C., told Young the “FBI goes to great lengths to protect” the true identities of socalled confidential human sources who provide information pertaining to terrorism and national security “due to significant, legitimate fears of retaliation against each (witness) and his or her family” by ISIS and lone-wolf recruits. “This conclusion is not idle speculation,” he said.
Wright is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 18 on indictments charging him with conspiring to commit acts of terrorism, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and obstruction of justice.
His uncle, Usaamah Rahim, 26, was shot to death in Roslindale in 2015 while brandishing a 13-inch fighting knife at police and federal agents trying to stop him from carrying out an alleged plot to decapitate cops on behalf of ISIS. Prosecutors say Wright was in on the plan.