GOP chairmen implore White House not to release blind sheikh

By Jordy Yager - 09/20/12 04:54 PM ET

Eight top-ranking House Republicans are pressing the White House not to release “the blind sheikh” from prison, saying that it would be “a sign of weakness” by President Obama.

The administration has repeatedly stressed that it has no intention of freeing Omar Abdel-Rahman from federal prison. But rumors to that effect sprang up last week after a news article said the unrest at the U.S. Embassy in Egypt was initially motivated by calls for “the blind sheikh’s” release.

Rahman was convicted for his role in planning an attack on New York City in 1993 and is serving a life sentence, but he has remained popular in Egypt, where a group of supporters continue to call for his release.

In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Eric Holder this week, eight heads of House committees and subpanels pressed the administration not to appease the acts of violence in Egypt by releasing Rahman.

“Succumbing to the demands of a country whose citizens threaten our embassy and the Americans serving in it would send a clear message that acts of violence will be responded to with acts of appeasement rather than strength,” wrote Reps. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), Pete King (R-N.Y.), Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and Kay Granger (R-Texas).

“The release of Abdel-Rahman or any terrorist who plots to kill innocent Americans would be seen for it is — a sign of weakness and lack of resolve by the United States and its president.”

Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the National Security Council, rebutted any rumors or news reports that the United States is considering the release of Rahman in exchange for heightened security measures.

“There are no plans to release the blind sheikh or transfer him to Egypt,” said Veitor. “Reports to the contrary are absolutely baseless.”

Last week, riots erupted at the U.S. Embassy in Egypt and the U.S. Consulate in Libya. No one was killed in Egypt, but four Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, were murdered in Libya.