Congress Seeks Info On Arrests Of USF Students

By BILLY HOUSE and ELAINE SILVESTRINI The Tampa Tribune

Published: Sep 5, 2007

WASHINGTON - The head of a U.S. House committee plans to press Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff today about the indictments of two University of South Florida students, one accused of trying to help terrorists.

Chertoff is scheduled to appear this morning before the Committee on Homeland Security, headed by Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat.

So far, even Thompson has been kept in the dark about specifics, including what led a Tampa-based federal grand jury on Friday to accuse one of the men, Ahmed Mohamed, of trying to aid terrorists, his committee spokeswoman said Tuesday.

"He expects to be briefed, and he expects to ask some questions," spokeswoman Dena Graziano said.

Before the 10 a.m. hearing - Holding the Department of Homeland Security Accountable for Security Gaps - Thompson will meet with Chertoff privately for a classified briefing.

Thompson also may question Chertoff about the case during the open hearing, Graziano said.

The hearing was not scheduled as a result of Friday's indictments; it had been planned previously.

Bilirakis Has Questions

Another member of the committee, Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor, also intends to question Chertoff about what may be larger homeland security implications of Friday's indictments, said his spokesman, John Tomaszewski.

They include "the possible criminal background of one of the students [Mohamed] prior to entering the United States, the department's ability to monitor the actions of foreign students once in the county, and whether there is proper coordination between all of the responsible federal agencies on cases of this nature," Tomaszewski said.

Russ Knocke, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said he could not comment about the questions being raised because the investigation is ongoing.

Both men are Egyptian citizens; Megahed a permanent, legal U.S. resident and Mohamed visiting on a student visa.

The bare-bones federal grand jury indictment unsealed Friday accuses Mohamed of trying to help terrorists by aiding, teaching and demonstrating the use of an explosive device. The indictment says Mohamed distributed information "by any means" about the manufacture and use of an explosive device.

The indictment also charges Mohamed and another USF student, Youssef Megahed, with transporting explosives.

They two men were stopped for speeding Aug. 4 in Goose Creek, S.C., and taken into custody on state charges of possession of an explosive device. The men told police they only had fireworks in the car and were driving through the area to a beach in North Carolina.

South Carolina To Drop Charges

With the federal indictment in place, South Carolina officials said Tuesday they will drop the state charges.

Megahed's attorney, Andrew Savage, said he expects federal authorities to take custody of the two men once the charges officially are dropped.

An arraignment and an initial appearance hearing will be held in Charleston before the men are brought to Tampa. The defense could request a bail hearing, but Savage said his initial inclination is to wait for the transfer to Tampa so his client will have access to more witnesses who could testify on his behalf.

Karim Haggag, head of the media office for the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, said the embassy would be sending someone to talk to the men today as part of its routine consul work.

Savage has said he learned from Mohamed's attorney that Mohamed had been arrested in Egypt.

USF spokesman Ken Gullette said the university is unaware of any criminal charges against Mohamed in Egypt. Mohamed came to USF on an F-1 student visa, "which means he was cleared by Homeland Security," Gullette said.

At least one Muslim community activist said authorities should disclose more evidence so people can decide the validity of the case.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, chairman of the Senate's Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, was briefed on the case by committee staff on Friday, said a spokesman.

No details of what they told Lieberman were released. Chertoff is scheduled to appear before that panel within the next week, as well.

Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or at bhouse@tampatrib.com. Reporter Elizabeth Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.