WASHINGTON DC Justice arrived at Andrews Air Force Base early Friday morning. A pivotal figure in the deadly 2012 terror attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi Libya is now on American soil.

Attorney General Pam Bondi joined FBI Director Kash Patel and US Attorney Jeanine Pirro to announce the custody of Zubayr Al Bakoush. Authorities allege Al Bakoush served as a key leader in the assault that claimed the lives of four Americans including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Federal agents flew him into the United States in the early hours of the morning.

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Suspect Arrives at Joint Base Andrews

Attorney General Bondi confirmed the suspect landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at approximately 3 AM ET on Friday February 6.

Bondi spoke at the Department of Justice headquarters and declared they never stopped seeking justice for that crime against our nation.

The Charges Against Al Bakoush

US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro unsealed an eight count indictment against Al Bakoush. The charges stem from a 2015 sealed indictment. They include the murder of an internationally protected officer and State Department employee Sean Smith.

The indictment also lists terrorism offenses related to providing material support to terrorists and arson of the US diplomatic mission.

Officials kept the specific details of the capture operation private. They also did not confirm if foreign governments assisted. This transfer marks a significant breakthrough in a case that has remained open for nearly 14 years.

Previous Arrests and Convictions

Federal authorities previously captured two other militants connected to the deadly night in Benghazi. US Special Forces captured Ahmed Abu Khattala in a secret raid in 2014. A jury convicted him on terrorism related charges but acquitted him of murder. He is currently serving a 28 year sentence. Mustafa al Imam was captured later in 2017 and sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy. These convictions were significant but many believed they did not represent the full scope of the leadership behind the attack.

The Deception and Cover Up

The aftermath of the attack suffered from a controversial narrative pushed by the Obama Administration and the Hillary Clinton State Department. Officials initially blamed the violence on a spontaneous protest over an obscure internet video rather than a calculated terrorist assault. Ambassador Susan Rice appeared on five Sunday talk shows to promote this video narrative. Many Americans viewed this as a deliberate deception to protect the administration during an election year. This cover story also fueled long standing allegations that the administration acted out of desperation to obscure the true nature of the CIA annex in Benghazi and potential off the books activities occurring in the region.

Future Court Appearance

Al Bakoush will appear in federal court in Washington DC to face these charges formally. The arrest of Al Bakoush signals that the investigation remains active under the current leadership of the FBI and DOJ.

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