“He’s not a threat,” the publicly-appointed attorney said, cited by local ABC television affiliate KATU. “He’s simply a person trying to live through a difficult adolescence.
“In America, the government cannot create a crime,” he added.
At the start of the trial, an FBI agent who gave evidence in disguise maintained that Mohamud was prone to violence from the beginning and spoke of plans to “wage war” on the United States.
To test Mohamud’s resolve, the agent – who was posing as an Al-Qaeda recruiter named “Youssef” – said that in his first meeting with Mohamud, he gave the then-teenager five examples of how he could be “a good Muslim.”
According to Youssef, whose real name was withheld in court, Mohamud stopped short of the most extreme option – martyrdom – but chose violence over praying five times a day or raising money for militant groups.
FBI agent Fowler said the guilty verdict “highlights the difficult but important work that FBI employees do every day.”
“In this country, everyone has a right to live, work and worship freely and without fear. FBI employees – in Oregon and around the world – find strength in preserving and protecting these core values,” he said.
Fowler thanked the jurors, saying: “I know that they carried a heavy burden – deciding the fate of a young man while balancing the needs for safety and justice.
“We greatly appreciate their service to their country.”
US Attorney for the District of Oregon Amanda Marshall acknowledged the case had been difficult not only for Portland, but also for Mohamud’s family and the Somali community.
“We are hopeful that this will bring closure and healing to all of us here in Portland, and to all of the families that attended the Christmas tree lighting,” she added.
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