A Libyan extremist militia leader was sentenced to 22 years in prison due to federal terrorism charges related to his involvement in the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya.
Ahmed Abu Khattalah was found guilty of providing material support or resources to terrorists and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to terrorists, among other charges back in November 2017.
Khattalah’s role in the Benghazi attack included instructing his group, Ubaydah bin Jarrah, to conduct violence by first attacking the U.S. Special Mission. The compound was set ablaze as members of the militia broke into buildings armed with AK-47 rifles, grenades, and other weapons.
Khattalah communicated with members of his militia prior and throughout the attack via cellphone, according to the Justice Department. The government also found that he prevented emergency responders from approaching the compound.
Attacks were later conducted at a CIA annex in Benghazi on Sept. 12.
Altogether, four Americans — Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, and U.S. government personnel Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty — died in the Benghazi attacks.
Although prosecutors sought a life sentence, U.S. District Judge Christopher “Casey” Cooper opted for a 22-year sentence. The defense had asked for a 15-year sentence.
“Even if you did not pour the gasoline or light the match, the evidence showed you were aware of the attack, and once the gates were breached, the likelihood someone would die was extreme high. This was not guilt by association,” Cooper said to Khattalah, per The Washington Post.
“This fact alone, the first killing of a U.S. Ambassador while in the performance of his duties in nearly 40 years, makes this case a truly singular event and warrants imposition of the maximum sentence permissible under the law,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiLorenzo wrote in court filings.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took heat from GOP Republicans, who argued that Clinton should have verified the facility had appropriate security prior to the attacks.
