Contents of Accused Wannabe Terrorist’s Backpack Shown to Jury

By SEAN EGAN & MICHAEL ODMARK

Prosecutors in the Brooklyn Federal Court case against the Air Force veteran with alleged plans to join ISIS on Thursday used the testimony of a counter-terrorism experts to challenge the defendant’s claim that he was in Istanbul looking for a job instead of preparing to join Islamic State fighters.

The contents of Pugh’s backpack, which was confiscated when he was stopped in Istanbul and deported back to Kennedy International Airport, were shown to the jury to bolster this contention.

Among the items were damaged thumb drives—crushed, with chips ripped out—a solar-powered phone charger, two compasses, a Camelbak, a solar-powered flashlight, and a balaclava face mask.

“He wasn’t going for typical purposes,” said the prosecution.

The defense then argued that these items are available to all free people and owned by people who don’t fight for ISIS.

Prosecutors emphasized the absence of a resume or dress clothes.

“Common sense would dictate that you dress nicely for a job interview,” said Jessica Ulmur, a counter-terrorism investigator who was on the witness stand.

FBI special agent John Radzitki, who investigated the backpack, testified about the contents of Pugh’s laptop where he said he found a folder titled “Fighter’s Folder,” containing headshots of “martyred” soldiers, ISIS flags, anti-Israeli propaganda, and more.

Pugh raised suspicions among officials and colleagues as early as 2001, when it was reported to the FBI that he expressed sympathies with Osama Bin Laden. Then, in 2014, when the Islamic State beheaded its first American hostage, Pugh defended the terrorists, remarking that the group “had a right to defend itself,” said his former manager, Aamer Aslam in court on Monday.

In court on Thursday, Pugh’s Facebook posts and conversations were read to the jury, further depicting him as a fierce extremist with clearly demonstrated terrorist sympathies. One exchange was about the execution of Indiana aide worker Peter Kassig. “I asked Allah to forgive them if they have erred,” Pugh wrote. “Daesh is doing the best they can.”

In another Facebook post read by the prosecution, Pugh wrote, “People think they (ISIS) can just walk over to the border and just let me in. People must fight for new ground while defending their home ground. Islamic State is fighting coalition of America, Syria, British and many more.”

Eric Creizman, one of Pugh’s lawyers, argued earlier in the trial that the prosecution’s charges were based on speculation. He admitted that Pugh’s admiration for the Islamic State wasn’t a secret, but “none of this is illegal,” he told the jury. “These are protected thoughts, statements, and beliefs.”