Terrorist Attorney Lynne Stewart Receives Holiday Pardon

Details

Category: Crime

Published on Tuesday, 31 December 2013 19:21

Written by Janet Walker

Lynne Stewart, the famed New York Civil Rights attorney arrested for smuggling messages for a blind Egyptian sheik serving a life sentence for plotting to blow up New York City landmarks, has received a compassionate release.

Stewart, 74, was granted the compassionate release as she has less than 18 months to live and has been diagnosed with advanced stage IV breast cancer that has metastasized and spread to both lung and bone.

U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl signed the release order stating "The director of the Bureau of Prisons contends, and this court agrees, that the defendant's terminal medical condition and very limited life expectancy constitute extraordinary and compelling reasons that warrant the requested reduction.”

She was originally sentenced to 28 months in 2005 for providing material support to terrorists. Stewart allegedly committed perjury during a 2010 trial and was her initial sentencing was increased to ten years, as she made light of the seriousness of her crimes. her conviction on felony charges resulted in an immediate disbarment.

During Stewart’s early career she represented many individuals who would now be considered members of domestic terror organizations such as Underground Weathermen, Black Panthers. She also defended mob hit man Sammy “The Bull” Gravano. Stewart always considered herself a movement lawyer.

The compassionate release has been denied on several occasions as Stewarts medical condition did not meet the severity of the legal requirements.

Upon release Stewart will live with an adult son in Brooklyn.