tinyurl.com/2bxac -> story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040520/ap_on_re_us/spain_bombings_lawyer_4
AP Photo Brandon Mayfield's release came soon after Spanish officials said fingerprints found on a bag near the bombing site were that of an Algerian. US authorities had previously said the prints were Mayfield's. The bag contained detonators similar to those used in the March 11 bombings, which killed 191 people and injured 2,000 others. "I want to thank my friends and family for what I'll call a harrowing ordeal," Mayfield, a Muslim convert, said as he walked out the federal courthouse in Portland, grasping his wife's hand and holding a Koran and a Muslim prayer rug. In Arabic and then in English, Mayfield recited the Muslim prayer: "God is great. His three children, ages 10, 12 and 15, rushed up behind him, and his wife's eyes filled up with tears. Mayfield, who ran a small, struggling Portland law firm, was arrested May 6 as a material witness and has not been charged. It is not clear whether the investigation against him has been dropped.
web sites) had Mayfield's home under surveillance for weeks -- but had rushed to arrest him because they feared news of their investigation would be leaked. Steve Wax, Mayfield's attorney, said a gag order issued by a federal judge remained in place, and he could not discuss details. But he added: "The reality of this case is that some breaks in that secrecy -- some leaks -- have been quite harmful to Mr Mayfield." Beth Anne Steele, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Portland, did not immediately return calls asking for comment. Mayfield's brother, Kent, had to be pulled away from the TV cameras by Wax when he shouted out: "This proves it was a total witchhunt."
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