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.


Chinese military activity nearly doubles around key US ally in disputed waters
Mamdani’s $30M plan to fight antisemitism includes increased funding for anti-Israel group
Clarence Thomas’ Incisive Questions Expose Big Problem with ‘Climate Reparations’ Case
New York Times Campaigns for the Indiana Fever to Part with Sophie Cunningham Because of Conservatives
Republicans are not talking about Trump’s biggest 2024 campaign promise
Federal judge blocks Trump administration fines of up to $1.8M for migrants
Man pleads guilty to 2023 killing of Lauren Heike on Phoenix hiking trail
Watch: US Soccer Player Takes Possibly Worst Dive Ever Caught on Camera After Mexico Player Barely Taps Him
Child Dies After Freak Accident in Playground Tube Slide
Denver man’s escape exposes chilling Tren de Aragua kidnapping plot that lands trio in prison
Former TV anchor who pleaded guilty to killing mother last Halloween gets life sentence
‘Cornell 7’ Member Turns Accusations Around, Says He Was the Victim and Jane Doe Was the Perpetrator
Woman allegedly stabs girl after SUV hits semi as soldiers step in to stop horrific roadside attack
Trump says Putin call coming ‘very soon’ as US tracks suspected plague death in Russia
Ex-CIA official admits to $194 million fraud scheme involving gold bars
See also  Somali former aide to Minneapolis mayor sentenced in Feeding Our Future fraud case

“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.”


Chinese military activity nearly doubles around key US ally in disputed waters
Mamdani’s $30M plan to fight antisemitism includes increased funding for anti-Israel group
Clarence Thomas’ Incisive Questions Expose Big Problem with ‘Climate Reparations’ Case
New York Times Campaigns for the Indiana Fever to Part with Sophie Cunningham Because of Conservatives
Republicans are not talking about Trump’s biggest 2024 campaign promise
Federal judge blocks Trump administration fines of up to $1.8M for migrants
Man pleads guilty to 2023 killing of Lauren Heike on Phoenix hiking trail
Watch: US Soccer Player Takes Possibly Worst Dive Ever Caught on Camera After Mexico Player Barely Taps Him
Child Dies After Freak Accident in Playground Tube Slide
Denver man’s escape exposes chilling Tren de Aragua kidnapping plot that lands trio in prison
Former TV anchor who pleaded guilty to killing mother last Halloween gets life sentence
‘Cornell 7’ Member Turns Accusations Around, Says He Was the Victim and Jane Doe Was the Perpetrator
Woman allegedly stabs girl after SUV hits semi as soldiers step in to stop horrific roadside attack
Trump says Putin call coming ‘very soon’ as US tracks suspected plague death in Russia
Ex-CIA official admits to $194 million fraud scheme involving gold bars
See also  Illinois officials released more than 500 criminal immigrants despite ICE detainers, House GOP report finds

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