In a significant development in the decade-long pursuit of justice for the victims of the 2012 Benghazi attack, Ahmed Abu Khatallah, a 53-year-old Libyan national, has been resentenced to 28 years in federal prison. This ruling addresses federal terrorism charges and other offenses directly linked to the deadly assault on the U.S. Special Mission and a nearby CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012. The attack tragically resulted in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, and government personnel Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty.
The announcement of the resentencing was made by top-ranking officials including Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves, alongside key figures from the FBI. Khatallah’s journey through the U.S. legal system began with his capture in Libya on June 15, 2014, which led to his trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Originally sentenced on November 28, 2017, Khatallah received a 22-year prison term following a jury conviction on multiple counts. These included conspiracy and provision of material support to terrorists, destruction of U.S. property placing lives in jeopardy, and the use of a semiautomatic assault rifle during a violent crime. However, this sentence was deemed too lenient by the D.C. Circuit, prompting a government cross-appeal after Khatallah’s initial appeal. On July 26, 2022, while upholding the conviction, the court vacated the original sentence, citing its substantive unreasonableness considering the severity of Khatallah’s terrorist crimes, and remanded for a harsher penalty.
Judge Christopher Cooper of the U.S. District Court delivered the resentencing of 28 years, marking a definitive step in closing this chapter of the Benghazi attack case.
Evidence presented by the government detailed Khatallah’s leadership role within Ubaydah bin Jarrah, an extremist militia operating outside Libyan law. Prior to the attacks, Khatallah reportedly incited violence against the U.S. presence in Libya. Intelligence indicated that in early September 2012, Khatallah and his associates amassed weaponry, preparing for an assault.
On the night of September 11, 2012, Khatallah allegedly directed his group to initiate the attack, targeting the U.S. Special Mission first. Armed assailants, equipped with AK-47s, grenades, and other weapons, stormed the Mission compound, setting fires and forcibly entering buildings. Ambassador Stevens and Mr. Smith were trapped in a villa and succumbed to fatal smoke inhalation after attackers ignited a fire. A State Department employee attempting to guide them to safety sustained injuries.
Crucially, phone records indicated Khatallah’s continuous communication with his group throughout the attack. He was also positioned at the compound’s perimeter, preventing emergency responders from accessing the site. Furthermore, evidence suggested Khatallah contacted leaders of other militias, instructing them not to intervene.
Following the initial assault on the Mission, violence extended to the nearby CIA Annex in the early hours of September 12, 2012. This second location was targeted with gunfire followed by a precise mortar attack, resulting in the deaths of Mr. Woods and Mr. Doherty and serious injuries to another State Department employee and a U.S. government security specialist.
The FBI New York Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force spearheaded the investigation, receiving significant support from various government agencies, notably the CIA and the Department of State. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb, Jr., and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. DiLorenzo led the latest prosecution, with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
This resentencing represents a crucial legal outcome in a case that has remained a focal point of international attention, particularly concerning the question, “Where Is Benghazi” in the context of international security and U.S. foreign policy. The pursuit of justice for the Benghazi attack continues to underscore the U.S. government’s commitment to combating terrorism and holding perpetrators accountable for attacks on American personnel and facilities worldwide.
