Surprise! Air America Host Defending Terror Plotter

Ron Kuby never met an enemy of America he won't represent.

The arrest of a Colorado airport shuttle driver as part of a terrorism investigation reveals a murky plot that involved him receiving explosives training with al-Qaida in Pakistan and downloading instructions on his computer on how to build bombs.

But one thing is missing — actual terrorism charges.

Najibullah Zazi was only charged with making false statements to the government, raising questions about the nature of the plot.

Zazi's defense team denied reports that he considered a plea deal related to terror charges, and Zazi's attorney, Arthur Folsom, has dismissed as rumor remarks by a senior U.S. intelligence official in Washington that Zazi played a crucial role in an intended terrorist attack.

"All of that hype and it comes down to charging him with lying to the government. It sounds disproportionate to the hype," Taj Ashaheed, Colorado Muslim Society spokesman, said at a festival for the end of Ramadan in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

Wendy Aiello, a spokeswoman for Zazi's defense team, didn't immediately return a call Sunday seeking comment on the charges.

Zazi, who lives in an apartment in the Denver suburb of Aurora, was arrested late Saturday after three days of questioning by the FBI. He was due to appear in federal court Monday.

Also arrested were Zazi's father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, 53, in Denver; and an associate, Ahmad Wais Afzali, 37, of New York City, the Justice Department said. Both also were charged with making false statements to federal agents, which carries a penalty of eight years in prison. Court appearances for both also were set Monday.
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Ron Kuby, Afzali's attorney, said his client cooperated with authorities, giving them a DNA sample and letting them search his home after the FBI said it was "frantic for any information about Zazi."

Kuby said the government may have been forced to act after Zazi went to New York.

"Now they find themselves without a case and they're lashing out at people they shouldn't be lashing out at," Kuby said.