A Libyan militant has pleaded not guilty in a U.S. federal court to charges linked to the September 11, 2012, attacks in Benghazi that killed four American citizens, including a U.S. ambassador.
Ahmed Abu Khattala entered a not guilty plea on Monday at a short hearing in Washington, D.C. Khattala is charged with 18 counts including murder of an “internationally protected person” and killing a person during an attack on a federal facility. Some of the charges carry the death penalty.
Khattala’s lawyer, a federal public defender, said she is waiting for the federal government to turn over additional information on the charges her client faces. The next hearing in his case is set for December 9.
Khattala was captured by U.S. special forces in June and brought to the U.S. to stand trial. He is the first suspect to be charged in the Benghazi attacks.
U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, an embassy staffer and two contractors were killed when a mob stormed the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.