Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the man the US accuses of being the ringleader in the deadly 2012 attack on the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, pleaded not guilty Saturday during a brief appearance in federal court in Washington.
Abu Khatallah was appointed a public defender, Michele Peterson, who entered a not guilty plea. He was ordered to remain in custody until hearings set for July 2 and July 8.
A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment Thursday in connection with attacks that killed four Americans, including US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens.
In his court appearance, Abu Khatallah, a Libyan national who the government said is about 43, requested consular assistance from the Libyan government. U.S. authorities were working with Libyan embassy officials in Washington to provide him the assistance, according to the (CNN).
For his part, US Attorney General Eric Holder said "Now that Ahmed Abu Khatallah has arrived in the United States, he will face the full weight of our justice system," adding "We will prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant's alleged role in the attack that killed four brave Americans in Benghazi."