ForteCash

U.S. to pay $2M, apologize for false terror arrest

CNN | November 29, 2006
Henry Schuster and Terry Frieden

An Oregon lawyer wrongly arrested and accused of involvement in the 2004 Madrid train bombings has settled a lawsuit against the U.S. government for $2 million, attorneys told CNN on Wednesday.

Brandon Mayfield was arrested in Portland, Oregon, on a material witness warrant in May 2004, less than two months after the train bombings.

The settlement was confirmed by both sides. It was reached Tuesday during a conference with a federal judge, attorneys said.

The FBI identified Mayfield's fingerprint on a blue plastic bag containing detonators found in a van used by the bombers. However, the FBI's fingerprint identification was wrong and Mayfield was released several days later.

Mayfield and his family later sued the U.S. government for damages. The Portland-area attorney contended that he was a victim of profiling because he is a Muslim convert.

The Justice Department denied the profiling allegation in a prepared statement on Wednesday.

The settlement includes not only a $2 million payment, but an apology, said Mayfield's attorney, Elden Rosenthal.

The written apology reads as follows:

"The United States of America apologizes to Mr. Brandon Mayfield and his family for the suffering caused by the FBI's misidentification of Mr. Mayfield's fingerprint and the resulting investigation of Mr. Mayfield, including his arrest as a material witness in connection with the 2004 Madrid train bombings and the execution of search warrants and other court orders in the Mayfield family home and in Mr. Mayfield's law office."

Added Rosenthal: "Mr. Mayfield and his family felt it was in their best interest to get on with their lives. No amount of money can compensate Mr. Mayfield for being held as a prisoner and being told he faced the death penalty."

Mayfield and his attorneys say the settlement allows him to continue the portion of his lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Patriot Act. Mayfield contends that his home was searched under provisions of the Patriot Act.

In its statement, the Justice Department said its Office of Inspector General found no evidence of profiling or misuse of Patriot Act provisions.

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Pleasurepays

so what you are saying is that the judicial system and system of checks and balances always works in the end and even the occasional mistep is oncovered and rectified through the courts and that the federal government is ultimately held accountable for its actions?

i agree!

arrrest me and pay me $2,000.000.00!!

please?!?!?!?

anyone!?!??!?!

ForteCash

Yeah no shit

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interracialtoons

I'd say he hit the "lottery of arrest". If you got wrongfully arrested and actually won a suit you would be lucky to get $15k...FACT!
Most get fucking nothing especialy not an apology.


Further I don't agree that the arrrest was "false" but it was "in error".
Big difference IMO.
Thinking I'm "The crook" and arresting me is not the same as pretending I'm a crook so I can be arrested.

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Done.

ForteCash

yeah, he's lucky he's not rotting in a prison cell somewhere

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rounders

yeah! arest me and give me $2mil, now hes gunna be hounded. hahahah

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ICQ#: 153923840

ForteCash

I'll take my chanced NOT being arrested I think

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