Top Terrorist Suspect in Benghazi Attack Now in FBI Custody

 The U.S. has arrested Zubayr Al-Bakoush, an alleged leader of the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, and Jeanine Pirro announced the arrest, saying Al-Bakoush faces charges including murder, terrorism, and arson related to the horrific attack.

As reported by Fox News:

The U.S. has arrested Zubayr Al-Bakoush, alleged to be one of the leaders of the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the arrest on Friday. Bondi said that Al-Bakoush was charged with charges of murder, terror and arson, all related to the 2012 attack.

“Zubayr Al-Bakoush will now face American justice on American soil. We will prosecute this alleged terrorist to the fullest extent of the law,” Bondi said on Friday. “Let this case serve as a reminder: If you commit a crime against the American people anywhere in this world, President Trump's Justice Department will find you. It might not happen overnight, but it will happen. You can run, but you cannot hide.”

Court documents obtained by Fox News lay out the actions that the government believes Al-Bakoush performed on the day of the attack. The documents state that Al-Bakoush drove to the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi on the evening of Sept. 11, 2012.

He and his conspirators were allegedly armed with “assault rifles, other firearms and explosive devices,” according to the court documents. The court documents state that Al-Bakoush entered the compound at approximately 10:01 p.m. before conducting “surveillance activity” in the area. Al-Bakoush is also accused of attempting to enter vehicles that belonged to Mission staff.

The attack on the mission unfolded over the course of 13 hours and resulted in the deaths of four Americans.

Now Al-Bakoush faces an eight-count indictment, including charges related to terrorism, arson, and most egregious, the violent assault and murders of Ambassador Chris Stevens and State Department Information Officer Sean Smith. The charges also include the attacks on both the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and a nearby CIA annex, where two additional Americans were murdered.

In total, four Americans were killed by radicals in Benghazi that night: an ambassador, State Department personnel, and CIA contractors. It was a planned terrorist assault, but it was clearly also meant to be a message. These heinous assaults were deliberately carried out on September 11, already a sensitive date in the United States, at a time when security warnings and requests had already been raised, and sadly, ignored.

As Attorney General Bondi put it:

Hillary Clinton famously once said about Benghazi, what difference does it make? Well, it makes a difference to Donald Trump, and it makes a difference to those families.

This arrest sends a clear message: You don’t get a free pass just because time has passed by or the headlines have moved on. America doesn’t forget its fallen, and we give no passes to those responsible for attacks against our people and our country.

The effects of Benghazi extended way beyond that  tragic night. It damaged American trust in the idea that our leaders will do whatever must be done to protect Americans serving overseas, not to mention trust that our government would be honest about what happened.

Benghazi was one of the most devastating attacks on American diplomats in modern history. As a nation, we owe it to the victims and their families to have the patience required to honor them by bringing the terrorists to justice. 

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more discussion of this announcement from the Justice Department. An update on ACLJ’s legal work. And we also spoke to actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus Christ on the hit series The Chosen, about his new film from Angel Studios, Solo Mio.

Watch the full broadcast below: