NYC Indy Media has a commentary on the Lynne Stewart verdict by Ann Schneider that's (my opinion) a must-read:
The prosecution admitted in its closing argument that Ms. Stewart played no role in the fatwa issued in the Sheik's name that called for the killing of Jews everywhere in revenge for Sharon's visit to the Al-Aqsa mosque. Instead, they blamed Abdel Sattar for issuing that without the Sheik's permission.
Ms. Stewart testified her aim was to get the Sheik transferred to Egypt, despite the lack of a treaty between the two countries. In this, she was following in the role established by former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark who also issued many press releases on behalf of the Sheik after his conviction without running afoul of the SAM. Clark testified that he had traveled to Egypt several times on the Sheik's behalf, working in diplomatic circles for the Sheik's return. Apparently, Ms. Stewart believed that informing the Arabic press about the Sheik's reconsideration of the cease-fire might influence the Egyptian authorities to take him back. In his summation, her attorney Michael Tigar said "What makes sense is that you want your client to have constructive engagement with somebody on the other side."
The weakness of the government's case is shown by their repeated reference to Ms. Stewart's "consciousness of guilt" as shown by her June 2000 confession to Sattar's spouse that (taped on Sattar's phone- her office was never tapped, they say), "I don't think I can hide this [press release] from Pat Fitzgerald." Fitzgerald did withdraw Ms. Stewart's visiting privileges when he learned about the press release. But her visiting privileges were restored six months later after she signed a new SAM, negotiated on her behalf by her attorney Stanley Cohen. If her conduct in issuing the press release was criminal, why was she not arrested until 2002, and why did the government restore her right to act as the Sheik's attorney? And where is any evidence of harm coming to any person as a result of the Sheik's statement?
