News Opinons

‘American Taliban’ Militant John Walker Lindh Released From Prison

John Walker Lindh, the captured Islamic militant who at age 20 journeyed to Afghanistan to join the Taliban and fought alongside the terrorists in the days after 9/11,  was released from a U.S. federal prison in Indiana on Thursday — despite lawmakers’ concerns about the “security and safety implications” of freeing an unrepentant terrorist who officials say continues to “openly call for extremist violence.”

Lindh, dubbed the “American Taliban,” had been serving his sentence at the Terre Haute, Indiana facility. He was discharged several years before completing the 20-year prison sentence he received for joining and supporting the Taliban, with officials citing “good behavior” for the early release. The former Islamist fighter and enemy combatant, named “Detainee 001 in the war on terror,” was captured alongside a group of Taliban fighters in 2001, just months after the Sept. 11 attacks and the start of the war in Afghanistan.


CBP officers seize nearly 850 pounds of khat packed into 12 suitcases after flight from London
Alina Habba shuts down speculation she could replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary
Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, small plane collide in midair, killing 1 and injuring 2 state troopers
Missouri judge hands Trump, GOP major redistricting win ahead of midterm elections
Idaho county probation officers compile ‘foreign-born list’ to hand over to ICE as critics raise alarms
Chinese national in blue state charged with illegally voting in federal election under another man’s name: DOJ
Parents seek six figures from surrogate who refused abortion after baby’s heart diagnosis: report
WNBA Subreddit Bans Fans from Even Mentioning Sophie Cunningham After Her Defense of Women’s Sports
Man Once Given ‘Outstanding Refugee’ Award by Minnesota Charged in Massive Medicaid Fraud Scheme
Trump threatens ‘unprecedented’ economic consequences for any nation aiding Iran
Police Report Reveals New Details in Hayden Panettiere’s Death: Ex-Boyfriend and ‘Very Emotional’ Brother Were at Scene
Painful: Watch Darline Graham Completely Blank During Debate, Catastrophically Implode on Simple Nat’l Security Question
El-Sayed reveals he would go ‘step further’ than Sanders on socialist plan for major US industry
Pollster Who Had Thanksgiving-Hating Socialist Up 23 Points Closes Up Shop, Admits to Bungling Wisconsin Race
Colorado black bear dies after becoming trapped inside unlocked car for days: report
See also  Appeals court upholds limits on warrantless ICE arrests at churches

“We must consider the security and safety implications for our citizens and communities who will receive individuals like John Walker Lindh, who continue to openly call for extremist violence,” Sens. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., wrote in a letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons late last week that was obtained by the Washington Post.


In the letter, the lawmakers reportedly sought details on how the agency is working to prevent prisoners such as Lindh from committing additional crimes after their release. They also asked which other “terrorist offenders” are next in line to be freed and how the Federal Bureau of Prisons determines whether or not someone is an “ongoing public threat.”


CBP officers seize nearly 850 pounds of khat packed into 12 suitcases after flight from London
Alina Habba shuts down speculation she could replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary
Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, small plane collide in midair, killing 1 and injuring 2 state troopers
Missouri judge hands Trump, GOP major redistricting win ahead of midterm elections
Idaho county probation officers compile ‘foreign-born list’ to hand over to ICE as critics raise alarms
Chinese national in blue state charged with illegally voting in federal election under another man’s name: DOJ
Parents seek six figures from surrogate who refused abortion after baby’s heart diagnosis: report
WNBA Subreddit Bans Fans from Even Mentioning Sophie Cunningham After Her Defense of Women’s Sports
Man Once Given ‘Outstanding Refugee’ Award by Minnesota Charged in Massive Medicaid Fraud Scheme
Trump threatens ‘unprecedented’ economic consequences for any nation aiding Iran
Police Report Reveals New Details in Hayden Panettiere’s Death: Ex-Boyfriend and ‘Very Emotional’ Brother Were at Scene
Painful: Watch Darline Graham Completely Blank During Debate, Catastrophically Implode on Simple Nat’l Security Question
El-Sayed reveals he would go ‘step further’ than Sanders on socialist plan for major US industry
Pollster Who Had Thanksgiving-Hating Socialist Up 23 Points Closes Up Shop, Admits to Bungling Wisconsin Race
Colorado black bear dies after becoming trapped inside unlocked car for days: report
See also  Appeals court upholds limits on warrantless ICE arrests at churches

Lindh has been blamed for playing a role in the death of Johnny “Mike” Spann, a U.S Marine turned CIA paramilitary operative who became the first American to be killed in combat in Afghanistan, amid the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Spann’s daughter, Allison, told Fox News in March that Lindh’s early release “feels like such a slap in the face.”

This is a developing story; please check back for updates.

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter