Lebanese Man Says Judge in Terrorism Case Can't Be Fair Because He's Jewish
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A judge rejected a Lebanese-born defendant's request that he remove himself from a case involving terrorism because the judge is Jewish.
Fawzi Mustapha Assi, 48, has pleaded guilty to providing support for a terrorist group. He addressed the court Monday against the advice of his attorney, saying he heard rumors that U.S. District Judge Gerald E. Rosen is a Zionist and might have pro-Israel sympathies.
Assi said he was concerned the judge could not be impartial when sentencing him for supporting "one of the most hated enemies of the state of Israel."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Rosen said Assi's request was "a little late" and that the court "has bent over backwards" to ensure fairness.
Assi, a former resident of Dearborn, was arrested in 1998 when he tried to board a plane to Lebanon with visual and navigational equipment for Hezbollah. He pleaded guilty in November 2007.
Sentencing is expected within eight weeks.