Justice Department touts intel gained from terrorist suspect

“The capture of Ahmed Warsame and his lengthy interrogation
for intelligence purposes, followed by his thorough questioning by law
enforcement agents, was an intelligence watershed,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara
said in a statement.

{mosads}“The handling of Warsame represents a seamless orchestration
by our military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies that significantly
furthered our ability to find, fight and apprehend those who wish to do us harm.”

The unsealed case comes as the Obama administration is
facing criticism from
Republicans for charging al Qeada operative and Osama bin Laden family
member Sulaiman Abu Ghaith in federal court, rather than a military tribunal.

GOP lawmakers have criticized the Obama administration for
reading terror suspects Miranda rights, warning that valuable intelligence
could be lost as a result.

The Justice Department said Warsame, a Somali native, was
captured in the Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen in April 2011. He was
questioned for intelligence purposes for two months, and then read his Miranda
rights before he was interrogated by federal law enforcement agents, according
to the department.

He arrived in New York in July 2011 and pleaded guilty to all
charges in December 2011. He faces life a maximum charge of in prison.

As part of his plea agreement, the Justice Department said
it would take steps to protect Warsame’s family.

The Justice Department said he was a key link between al
Shabaab, which operates primarily in Somalia, and AQAP, which is based in Yemen.
Warsame was accused of brokering a weapons deal between the two groups and
receiving explosives training from AQAP that he intended to pass on to members
of al Shabaab.