Defense: Federal agent coerced teen to violence

(Getty Images)

Print Story

Published: 5/07 2:42 pm

Share

Updated: 5/07 2:43 pm

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Defense lawyers for a Somali-American teen accused of trying to detonate a bomb at an Oregon holiday tree-lighting say a federal agent tried to coerce him into violence.
Mohamed O. Mohamud's attorneys say emails from an agent known as "Bill Smith" urged Mohamud to violence. They say that's enough to prove his innocence and prove the government is not playing fair with the evidence it is supposed to provide.
Mohamud is now 20. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to ignite a weapon of mass destruction at the Nov. 26 ceremony in Portland, Ore.
The FBI says its agents were acting as his coconspirators as part of a sting, and there was never a real explosive device.