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FBI ends probe that halted Guantanamo 9/11 case

By WTOP Staff

BEN FOX
Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — An FBI investigation into a potential security breach that halted proceedings at the Guantanamo war crimes tribunal in April has ended without charges, the Justice Department said Thursday.

The FBI was investigating whether a member of the defense team for Ramzi Binalshibh, one of five prisoners at the U.S. base in Cuba charged in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, had facilitated “unauthorized communications” abroad, Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon said.

In April, a lawyer for Binalshibh disclosed that the FBI questioned the defense security officer assigned to their team, a non-lawyer who assists with the handling of classified evidence. The disclosure halted pretrial hearings in the case because of a potential conflict of interest for defense lawyers charged with defending both their clients and potentially themselves if they were targets of any investigation.

Fallon said in a statement that no lawyers are under investigation. A federal prosecutor informed the court Wednesday that the investigation was over and that the government believes there is no conflict and that the case should resume.

But Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Bogucki, a military lawyer for Binalshibh, said all five defendants in the case and all their attorneys must still determine whether a potential conflict exists.

“We are going to have to carefully review all the facts ourselves and Ramzi (Binalshibh) is going to have to look at the facts,” Bogucki said. “We are not going to be able to accept the government’s statement at face value.”

The Justice Department did not provide details about the investigation, but Fallon said “The alleged facilitation of these communications may have constituted a federal crime and compromised national security.”

James Harrington, a lawyer for Binalshibh, said FBI agents questioned the security officer, a contractor employed by SRA International Inc. of Fairfax, Virginia, at his home and asked him about the activities other defense team members. He said they also earlier questioned another member of the defense team, a non-lawyer whose job he did not disclose.

Harrington said the Justice Department statement does not address what, if anything, they learned about the defense team between the questioning of the first defense team member in November and the second in April.

“They don’t address the fact that they were spying on the defense team for six months,” he said. “Our client needs to know that before he can make an intelligent decision.”

Bogucki, who was in Jordan to interview witnesses and experts to prepare for the long-delayed trial, said he cannot be certain about what prompted the FBI investigation of the security officer, who has left the case, or what communications came under scrutiny. “We have dealings with an awful lot of people in an awful lot of places around the world.”

A hearing is scheduled for June for the judge to consider the appointment of independent counsel for attorneys involved in the case who face a potential conflict because of the investigation.

Binalshibh and his four co-defendants face trial by military commission on charges that include terrorism and nearly 3,000 counts of murder in violation of the law of war for their alleged roles planning and aiding the Sept. 11 attack. They could get the death penalty if convicted. A trial date has not been set.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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