New Charges Brought Against Chief Benghazi Suspect
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Win McNamee/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The top suspect in the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, two years ago is now facing 17 additional charges, many of which carry the death penalty.
U.S. investigators believe that Ahmed Abu Khattala organized the siege on Sept. 11, 2012 that led to the murders of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans at the compound.
Although he has already pleaded not guilty to providing material support and resources to terrorists, the new charges brought by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. are more serious in that they allege Khattala is responsible for the intentional murders of U.S. personnel on a federal facility.
The indictment also claims Khattala launched the deadly assault after learning that the U.S. operated intelligence facilities in Benghazi.
Since the siege, Khattala had openly bragged about his involvement, but it wasn’t until last June that he was taken into custody by Special Forces in Libya.
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