• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe US & Canada
  4. Judge responsible for Bout case says he's a businessman, not terrorist
Europe

Judge responsible for Bout case says he's a businessman, not terrorist

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Dec 2022 10:25
  • 5 Shares

Shira A. Scheindlin reveals that Bout had no intention to kill Americans.

  • Judge Shira A. Scheindlin.
    Judge Shira A. Scheindlin.

Former District Judge who presided over alleged international arms dealer Viktor Bout, Shira A. Scheindlin, told Sputnik that she does not consider him a terrorist but rather a businessman, doubting that he planned to kill Americans. 

Upon being asked whether Bout really wanted to kill Americans, the judge said: "No, no, not really," revealing that an undercover US agent told Bout during a sting operation "Do you realize these weapons will be used to kill Americans?" and the Russian businessman reportedly said "Oh yes, I understand that. And I agree, it's my enemy too." 

The judge remarked, "So he said that on the tapes, he said, ‘It's my enemy too.’ So he said the right word, but he was not himself a terrorist who, who like Al Qaeda flies planes into the Trade Center. I would always say he's not an ideological terrorist. He's a businessman."

Scheindlin doubted that Bout really thought about how the weapons would be used. 

"He's a businessman. So I don't think he cares who got killed by these weapons that he sold. Whoever got killed – got killed. He sold it to two sides of a civil war in Africa. He sold to both sides," Scheindlin said. 

Scheindlin in 2012 sentenced Bout to 25 years in prison on charges of conspiring to supply Colombian "rebels" with weapons to kill Americans - Bout pleaded not guilty. 

Last week, the US exchanged Bout for basketball player Brittany Griner, who was earlier sentenced to 9 years in prison in Russia and fined one million rubles ($16,590 then) for illegally bringing cannabis oil into the country.

She pleaded guilty to the charges but claimed she did not intend to break the law or use the banned substance in Russia.

Read more: WH denies Saudi Arabia, UAE mediation in Griner's release

  • Viktor Bout
  • Russia
  • United States

Trending Now

All
Brittney Griner arrives at the Khimki Court outside Moscow on Wednesday. (AFP)

US urging 1 for 2 prisoner exchange with Russia

Most Read

US dollar may lose status as global reserve currency: Yellen

US dollar may lose status as global reserve currency: Yellen

  • US & Canada
  • 22 Mar
Rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

Peace rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

  • US & Canada
  • 18 Mar
Iran–Saudi Deal: Not a Diplomatic Normalisation, But An ‘Architecture’

Iran–Saudi Deal: Not a Diplomatic Normalisation, But An ‘Architecture’

  • Analysis
  • 19 Mar
Poland

Poland may end up 'joining' Ukraine war: Polish Ambassador to France

  • Europe
  • 20 Mar

Read this

All
'Israel' heading to dangerous place: Shin Bet head to Netanyahu
Palestine

'Israel' heading to dangerous place: Shin Bet head to Netanyahu

  • Today
The Los Angeles Police Department headquarters building is seen downtown Los Angeles, Friday, July 8, 2022  (AP)
US & Canada

Investigation launched after undercover LAPD officers info exposed

  • Today
In this Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, file photo, a father gives water to his malnourished daughter at a feeding center in a hospital in Al Hudaydah, Yemen. (AP)
MENA

Yemeni children lives at stake by aid funding shortfall: UNICEF

  • Today
An asteroid estimated to be 40-90 metres in diameter will pass between Earth and the moon on Saturday US time. Photograph: Nasa (AFP)
Miscellaneous

'City killer' asteroid to pass harmlessly between Earth, moon's orbit

  • Today
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS