Republicans challenge decision to bring Benghazi suspect to US

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are continuing to question the Obama administration’s decision to bring a Libyan terror suspect to the United States for trial in federal court.

Congressman Mike Rogers, who heads the House Intelligence Committee, tells CNN, “If we’re doing this for everybody engaged in terrorism around the world, we’d better start building prisons by the dozens.”

Ahmed Abu Khattala (hah-TAH’-lah), the alleged mastermind of the attacks in Benghazi that killed four Americans, appeared in federal court in Washington yesterday. Authorities aren’t saying where he’s being held.

The criminal proceedings could provide new insights into the attacks in 2012 — and they’ll serve as the latest test of the U.S. legal system’s ability to handle terrorism suspects captured overseas.

Prosecutors haven’t yet revealed details about their case, though the broad outlines are in a two-page indictment that was unsealed yesterday.

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105-a-14-(Representative Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman, House Homeland Security Committee, in interview)-“the right approach”-House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul says he would prefer to send Benghazi suspect Ahmed Abu Khattala to the Guantanamo Bay military prison where he could be processed more appropriately. COURTESY: CBS’ “Face the Nation” ((mandatory on-air credit)) (29 Jun 2014)

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106-a-14-(Representative Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman, House Homeland Security Committee, in interview)-“a criminal case”-House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul says the U.S. delayed prosecuting suspects in the Benghazi attacks because it’s giving them the benefit of the U.S. criminal justice system. COURTESY: CBS’ “Face the Nation” ((mandatory on-air credit)) (29 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO DCJL117: This artist’s rendering shows United States Magistrate, Judge John Facciola, swearing in the defendant, Libyan militant Ahmed Abu Khatallah, wearing a headphone, as his attorney Michelle Peterson looks on during a hearing at the federal U.S. District Court in Washington, Saturday, June 28, 2014. The hearing of the Libyan accused of masterminding deadly Benghazi attacks, lasted 10 minutes; he pled not guilty to conspiracy Saturday at his first appearance in U.S. court. (AP Photo/Dana Verkouteren) (28 Jun 2014)

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