Jihadi Smadi has his day in court - pleads "not guilty".

(Not guilty, he says. Prepare yourself for another costly show trial.)

Jihadi Smadi --->

From the Dallas Morning News:

Hosan Smadi, the 19-year-old Jordanian caught in an FBI sting trying to blow up a downtown Dallas skyscraper, pleaded not guilty today in federal court.

He appeared before U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn on charges of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, and bombing of a place of public use.

Peter Fleury, one of Smadi’s court appointed attorneys, said after Monday’s hearing that “this is just the beginning of the process. The government has given us a lot of material to sift through. We have a lot of work to do.” He said that the defense deposed Smadi’s younger brother, Husein, late last week. Husein Smadi is being held in immigration custody in California as a material witness and is set to be deported back to Jordan.

Lynn asked Smadi, who was accompanied by an Arabic interpreter, if he understood English, and Smadi indicated that he mostly did. “I speak a little,” said Smadi, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, blue canvas shoes and leg shackles.(Ed. Note: He spoke enough English to find himself a bride. And are you wondering where he learned his English? At a Baptist school in Jordan.)

Lynn had federal prosecutor Dayle Elieson read the two count indictment in court, and the interpreter, standing beside Smadi, translated her words for him just to make sure he understood the charges.

Smadi told the judge that he had completed 11th grade in Jordan, and that he came to the U.S. “to study.” She asked he could write and read in English, and he replied, “some.” She also asked routine questions such as whether Smadi was under the care of a doctor, or was taking any medications. He said no to both.

She set a trial date of Dec. 7, but defense attorneys told her they planned to file paperwork asking for the date to be pushed until after March so that they have time to prepare.