TSA lawyer subpoenaed by Moussaoui trial court to explain herself News
TSA lawyer subpoenaed by Moussaoui trial court to explain herself

[JURIST] Transportation Security Administration lawyer Carla Martin has been subpoenaed to testify in federal court next Monday regarding her conduct in the Zacarias Moussaoui sentencing trial [JURIST news archive], sources close to the case said Thursday. Martin has been accused of coaching witnesses [JURIST report] and disclosing the government's case to witnesses in violation of a sequestration order [PDF], for which the TSA has placed her on administrative leave [JURIST report]. Martin's lawyer has characterized public reaction to Martin's actions as unwarranted, and while Martin will defend her conduct during Monday's hearing, it is unclear exactly what that argument will be.

Martin's conduct initially caused US District Judge Leonie Brinkema to reject [JURIST report] all aviation witnesses, testimony and exhibits presented by the government, which would have essentially gutted the government's case against Moussaoui. Brinkema subsequently narrowed the order [JURIST report] to cover only evidence handled by Martin, in response to a governmental motion to reconsider [PDF text; JURIST report]. Moussaoui faces the death penalty if the government can prove that his disclosure of al Qaeda links to the US following his arrest in August 2001 might have prevented the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The Washington Post has more.