Benghazi Defendant Convicted

A DC jury has found a Libyan militant guilty on two charges in the 2012 attack on the US post at Benghazi but deadlocked on murder counts. Mustafa al-Imam, 47, was convicted of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists and maliciously destroying property at diplomatic compound, CNN reports. He was captured by US special operations forces in 2017. A US official said at the time that there was video showing al-Imam at one of the sites attacked. US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed.

The federal jury will resume deliberating on the other counts Monday. If the deadlock isn't broken, the judge could disclare a mistrial on the remaining counts. The verdicts Thursday were reminiscent of the 2017 case against the accused ringleader of the attack, the Washington Post notes. In that prosecution, Ahmed Abu Khattala was found guilty on four of 18 counts, but not directly responsible for the deaths. (More Benghazi stories.)