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Former Attorney General to Megyn Kelly: White House, Sec. of State Should Issue ‘Unequivocal’ Denial of Blind Sheikh Report

Sep. 20, 2012 5:06pm Jason Howerton

Michael Mukasey to Megyn Kelly: Adminstration Should Issue Denial of Blind Sheikh Report

US Judge Michael Mukasey, 81st Attorney General of the U.S.A. (AFP/Getty Images)

Former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Wednesday called on the White House and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to issue a firm denial, without caveat, on whether the State Department is considering transferring Omar Abdel Rahman, also known as the “Blind Sheikh,” into Egyptian custody.

Though State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland on Tuesday said there is no plan to “release” the Blind Sheikh and that, to her knowledge, no “senior” Egyptians had made the request “recently,” Mukasey told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly the denial was indeed filled with caveats.

“I think the denials ought to come from the White House and from the secretary of state. And they ought to be flat, clear and unequivocal. Nothing about recently, nothing about senior leaders, nothing that leaves any door open,” Mukasey said.

On Monday, a source told TheBlaze that the U.S. State Department was having discussions about transferring the Blind Sheikh to Egypt based on “humanitarian and health” concerns. Ever since, TheBlaze has been trying to get a clear denial and/or clarification from the State Department regarding our exclusive report. While the State Department has told the press the Sheik will not be released, it has failed to respond to questions about whether it was ever discussed or considered.

Further, even if no “senior” Egyptians have directly made the request to the State Department, newly elected Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, considers the release of the Blind Sheikh a matter of great importance and vowed he would pressure the U.S. to release him as soon as he was elected.

Trying to understand why the U.S. government would even consider the transfer, Kelly mentioned a Fox News exclusive report showing that two days prior to the deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, a statement was released, directing “sons of Egypt” to force America to release the Blind Sheikh, “even if it requires burning the embassy down with everyone in it.”

The former attorney general explained that even “considering” to transfer the Blind Sheikh to Egypt, which would mean his release as he is highly revered in the country, is just as bad as thinking about releasing Osama bin Laden.

“He issued the fatwa from jail that authorized 9/11. He issued the fatwa that authorized the assassination of Hosni Mubarak,” Mukasey added. In addition to his murderous fatwas, the Blind Sheikh is also responsible for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000.

The Blind Sheikh (File)

Kelly asked of Rahman’s Egyptian adorers, “Do they care about the fact that he killed at least six people in 1993 and wounded 1,000 others and, as you point out now, was behind 9/11 as well?”

“Do you want a one word answer? No,” Mukasey replied, adding that such a move by the Obama administration would only “embolden” radical Islamists in Egypt and throughout the Middle East.

Watch Kelly’s interview with Mukasey via Fox News:

Just hours after Mukasey’s interview with Kelly on Wednesday, Greg Gutfeld, a co-host on the Fox News program “The Five,” slammed TheBlaze’s exclusive report that cites a source close to the Obama administration because the source was not identified, saying it’s “not fair” to accuse the Obama administration of something so incendiary without a “shred of a source.” TheBlaze’s source has asked not be identified.

“This report is B.S. I’m sorry,” Gutfeld said. “When you say a source close to the White House, is it a bartender at the Hawk & Dove? I can’t believe we’re doing this story without actually having just a shred of a source. I mean, I know we got it from TheBlaze. TheBlaze is an entertaining site, but come on! Where is this coming from?”

As previously noted by TheBlaze, Gutfeld never clarified what he meant by “entertaining.” However, he was extremely critical of the report and argued “The Five” shouldn’t even discuss it. He seemingly sided with a statement put out by the U.S. Department of Justice, which does not handle international matters, that reports of the Blind Shiekh’s transfer were “utter garbage.”

A group of GOP lawmakers also sent a letter to Secretary of State Clinton and Attorney General Eric Holder earlier this week, urging the administration not to transfer the Blind Sheikh. Additionally, Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) confirmed to the New York Post that the option was, in fact, being considered, according to another source of his in the Obama administration.

To read the entire letter, click here.

Front page image from Fox News.

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Comments (58)

ActualAmerican
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 3:23pm
Dear Blaze readers,
I think you guys got played on this Blind Sheik thing. Think about it — if you’re someone working in the Obama administration, and you want to cause a little mischief and discredit Obama’s opponents, how would you do it? Come up with a crazy rumor, with just enough surface plausibility to entice Obama-haters to buy it, and feed it to the not-exactly-stellar fact-checkers at The Blaze!

Now we know Glenn Beck is not one to shy away from an insane rumor if it fits into his paranoid worldview, even one that has been debunked many times over. So you have an “inside source” call up the Blaze and whisper to them that the Socialist-In-Chief is going to release a terrorist mastermind! Most normal people hear that and think, huh? Why would Obama release a notorious terrorist right before the election? But for Beck, Limbaugh and their ilk, it will be irresistible. And then it will spread to Fox and so on.

And then what? Nothing! The right wing gets all outraged, but nothing happens, and Beck etc. end up looking like paranoid nuts, chipping away even further at the little credibility they might have had. Beautifully played, Barack, beautifully played.

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- Jaycen
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 7:50pm
  Now we know Glenn Beck is not one to shy away from an insane rumor if it fits into his paranoid worldview, even one that has been debunked many times over.
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  Name. One.
  
  Report this comment
- PuppyKisses
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 8:47pm
  That Sheik is a real person? I thought he was the Achmed puppet in Jeff Dunhams comedy act!!! By the way, there is a whole bunch of terrorists Obama has released and he is even considering taking a Militant Terrorist group off the watchlist, not to mention that he apparently has ZERO problems with Iran getting Nuclear weapons and he has thrown out allies from Israel under the buss, then backed the bus ove them and backed up again!! You Obama loving, koolade drinking, sheepish puppets better hold on to your foodstamps caused we are flushing that turd in November!!!
  
  Report this comment
- RayOne
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 6:31pm
  The public is conditioned to expect ‘special deals’, as was done with getting ObamaCare through Congress.
  We Remember, Have a Chick-fil-A day.
  
  Report this comment
- RayOne
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 9:28am
  The Benghazi Deception is easier to say, it just rolls off the tongue.
  
  Report this comment
Uuuuuuuuuuuugh
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 6:55am
OBAMAS EXECUTIVE ORDERS:

THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
(Think each one over carefully for its significance and government control over your life)
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 10990 allows the government to take over all modes of transportation and control of highways and seaports.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 10995 allows the government to seize and control the communication media.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 10997 allows the government to take over all electrical power, gas, petroleum, fuels and minerals.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 10998 allows the government to take over all food resources and farms.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11000 allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11001 allows the government to take over all health, education and welfare functions.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11002 designates the of all persons. Postmaster General to operate a national registration
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11003 allows the government to take over all airports and aircraft, including commercial aircraft.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11004 allows the Housing and Finance Authority to relocate communities, build new housing with public funds, designate areas to be abandoned, and establish new locations for populations.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11005 allows the government to take over railroads, inland waterways and public storage facilities.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11049 assigns emergency preparedness function to federal departments and agencies, consolidating 21 operative Executive Orders issued over
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- Chet Hempstead
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 7:08am
  None of those are Obama’s Executive Orders. They were all signed by President Kennedy in 1962.
  
  Report this comment
- Stelex
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:33am
  Chets right……Obama’s orders are in the 13,000′s The 10,000 thru 12,000 span Kennedy thru Reagan.
  
  Report this comment
- Stelex
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:34am
  Although he may have amended some or all of them.
  
  Report this comment
lassiegirldawn
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 3:59am
Add your comments

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- scarletworm
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:49am
  The blind sheikh looks like Santa in the photo on front page. Or could it be…. SATAN?;)
  
  Report this comment
- Guckerts
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 1:46pm
  Most definitely Satan Claus.
  
  Report this comment
Grand design
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 1:34am
Hillary will just lie to protect her boss! The fix is in and the release will probably happen after the election! Morsi talks and Obama will comply!

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StanSteam
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:14pm
Oh, he’ll be released. . .on that we can depend. And I disagree that it will be after the election. The Muslim Bro’hood aren’t going to take the chance he won’t be re-elected. He will be secretly transferred out of the country and when the violence dies down because they got what they wanted, Obama will claim a diplomatic victory right before the elections. THIS my friends, is the October Surprise.

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- mils
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:47am
  unfortunately , we agree….the transfer will , will…take place.
  american’s are fools…we , in general do not pay attention to anything that is going on that effects our country…nothing! in a yr or two we will be wondering what the hell happened, because we don’t pay attention.
  
  Report this comment
The Bald Eagle
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 9:53pm
Well, simple story to kill by the administration, they haven’t so its true..

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Sal777
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:45pm
He is old and blind. He never ever saw WTC in his life, so how can be the mastermind of attack.
Please, use your mind before making a judgment.
الحرية للشيخ عمر عبدالرحمن

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- adeleeeee
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:02pm
  By your statement, you should be in jail. Otherwise, you are probably waiting to behead someone.
  
  Islam is a religious of violence, communism, and evil. I am saying this and will never take it back.
  
  Report this comment
- ofass
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 3:10pm
  Well, he was convicted in court (a real one not like in Arab countries when he came from) and for me that is good enough. Let him rot there until his last day on earth.
  
  Report this comment
- PuppyKisses
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 8:52pm
  Yeah, you can stuff your prophet and your Jihad up your poop shute!! If you don’t like freedom of speech, there are plenty of Countries you can move to. Get the Hell outta mine!!!
  
  Report this comment
starman70
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:37pm
Anything this administration says can only last as long as they want it to.

If Obama is defeated, you just watch how fast they will go back on their word. This convicted terrorist will be spirited out of jail, flown of a government plane and sent to Egypt before anyone even has an inkling of what is going on. It will be Obama’s way to “Spit in the eye” of the American people for voting him out.

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- StanSteam
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:16pm
  I agree wholeheartedly. This is a done deal.
  
  Report this comment
Watermain
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:26pm
Wow, always thought that Yassir Arafat was the ugliest man alive, but the blind sheik takes that title, and we can’t even see how ugly he is inside.

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- PuppyKisses
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 8:56pm
  He kinda reminds me of the Worlds ugliest dog. A Chinese Crested Teacup Chihuahua,
  
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Wilma
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:02pm
This story is perhaps the most glaring example of the damage this administration has done to the office of the presidency. Days after the administration’s official response, Americans do not have any confidence it is the truth.

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ambrosia
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:00pm
The only reason to release the murdering Blind Sheikh from prison
would be if Oblameo & Hillary take his place-
together…..in the SAME cell…NO plea deal, NO parole.
Surely, Bubba would be all for it !

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dmerwin
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:37pm
Now that, is the evil eye! “If thine eye offends you, pluck it out”. Same same Lockerbie Bomber.

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RayOne
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:24pm
If Holder does not get the first Presidential Pardon, it will go to the Blind Sheikh.

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Wool-Free Vision
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:17pm
I didn’t like the way Gutfeld handled the matter on The Five yesterday, but I forgive him. I believe he erred on the side of caution. He is usually pretty reliable and very, very witty. He cracks me up pretty often. So, he gets a pass from me this time. But he should probably issue an apology to The Blaze for his snide remarks.

I didn’t see The Five today (in fact, I very rarely do). Does anyone know if he, or anyone else on the panel, discussed this story? And if so, did he apologize?

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- david3755
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:14pm
  Gutfield is still a little infected from working at the huffington puffington post. He will probably end up eating his words.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:53pm
  WOOL, I was very unimpressed that the subject was not brought up again today and corrected. I’m in a forgiving mood too, but this still irritates me.
  
  Report this comment
Contrarian51
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:52pm
Did The Five refuse to discuss Harry Reid’s statement that he’d “heard” that Romney didn’t pay his taxes for 10 years?

The difference between Gutfeld and a clown is that sometimes a clown is funny. The guy adds nothing to the show and I keep finding myself switching over to Fox Business every time he opens his mouth, as he never adds anything of substance but just keeps making his forced (and failed) attempts to be humorous.

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- PuppyKisses
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 8:58pm
  I used to be terrified of clowns, not it is the Liberals that freak me out!!
  
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term limits for congress
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:52pm
If Hillary does make a formal denial, I hope she doesn’t do it on a video and post it on YouTube.

And, I hope in her video she is not eating a pork chop and lighting a Quoran on fire and using the fire to burn the blind guy’s beard off.

Look at me! I’m a movie producer! (because that’s what I would do!)

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- PuppyKisses
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 8:54pm
  Bravo!! That is a movie I would totally pay to see!!
  
  Report this comment
FightingBear
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:26pm
Of course they aren’t going to make a statement that is clear and unambiguous. The discussions have already taken place, and I suspect the deal has been made…but of course we all know that Obama will have more flexibility on this after the election.

We the people of course will not find out until the blind terrorist is safe and free in Egypt

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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:16pm
Pillory’s hidin’ in Silent John’s foxhole…no, wait a minute…I didn’t mean it THAT way. She’s takin’ a bus ride soon anyway. Now they’re puttin’ in Brown Rice so they can yell RACISM again. This act is gettin’ old…send in the clowns.

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Verceofreason
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:12pm
I love the way everyone THINKS they can give the president orders.
And they accuse HIM of narcissism.

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- marine249
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:28pm
  we can’t give him orders.
  WE CAN SURE TO HE!! VOTE HIM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:20pm
  He works for us, Tooly McTreason. He isn’t a king or a god, no matter how much you wish he were. Get stuffed (unless you like it that way, in which case, get emptied).
  
  Report this comment
- Verceofreason
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:50pm
  Well I think the WH should wish me a Happy Birthday every year.
  
  Report this comment
LeadNotFollow
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:31pm
…
Whether Obama gets a second term or not, do you realize the damage he can do between November 6, 2012 and January 20, 2013? He can pardon every terrorist.
The President can issue an order to kill anyone in America. He can play God.
No one man should be given the power to make such important decisions, completely on his own.

What good is a Congress or a Senate, if the President is given so much power?
The President should not have the power of a God, a King, or Dictator.
He’s a mortal man (not so sure in Obama’s case). He should be held to the same laws as the citizens.

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- Hobo Boondocks
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:24pm
  Don’t put it passed Obama orchestrating of or inaction to the terrorists attacks, calculating to give him cover or reason in the public’s eyes to quell or stop the attacks by releasing the blind Sheikh.
  
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msconstrue
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:18pm
it looks like he is wearing a santa hat in the picture.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:33pm
  That’s his Muslim Pixie cap.
  
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thibx
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:18pm
what deny whay they plan to do and got caught before it happened. oboma would look you in the eye and say its not true while the blind sheick is going out the back door of the white house.

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Tri-ox
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:15pm
Uh, they aren’t going to – because the report is true.

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- AnOregonian
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:34pm
  If they don’t release him, they will attack out of revenge. If they do release him, they will attack because they will see doing so as weakness.
  
  Either way they’re gonna attack us….
  
  I say, chip him with a GPS tracker and turn him loose. When they hold their grand reunion, put some warheads on some foreheads…
  
  Report this comment
encinom
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:13pm
There is no story other than the one Becky poo made up to protect the failing white horse Mittens.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:21pm
  ENCINOM, Not paying attention to the news again today? Its coming from Egypt’s interim President Morsi. Not only is this request coming out now from Morsi, it a statement that he made months ago too.
  
  Report this comment
- marine249
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:24pm
  Glad to see you back from Libya.
  WAS IT HOT OVER THERE.
  NOT AS COOL AS MAMA BASEMENT.
  
  Report this comment
- Neils60
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 8:46am
  ENICOM, Really, Beck made it up? Don’t forget, when Jimmy Carter’s protege/ Moslem Brotherhood Chief, Mohammed Morsi, took over the reigns of government in Egypt, following Hosni Mubarak being unceremoniously dicarded by Washington, Morsi promised, following his election, that he’d get the Blind Sheikh (the murderous swine, my words) released. This promise came AFTER his election. Do you think that Morsi would have made that promise, FOLLOWING his election, unless he was aware of a “deal” in the works in Washington? Think about it.
  
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kaydeebeau
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:11pm
Of cousre the regime has plans to release the Blind Shiek doing so is not in the best interest of the US so of course that is whAT obama will do. When he is removed from office, he will not care. if he is re-elected – we are doomed.

2Chron 7:14
Joel 2:12_13

Pray people pray

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- PuppyKisses
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 9:01pm
  Kaydeebeau, truer words never were spoken!!! I am afraid for my country for the first time ever!!
  
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