Bin Laden Spokesman Pleads Not Guilty; Next Hearing Date Set

Sulaiman abu Ghaith, the son-in-law of Osama bin Laden and major spokesman for the al Qaeda terrorist network had his first day in court today. According to the "New York Times," the 47-year-old Ghaith is the most senior al Qaeda leader to be tried in criminal court since the War on Terror began following the 9/11 attacks.

Ghaith plead not guilty to terrorism charges at his arraignment hearing in downtown Manhattan on Friday. A native of Kuwait, the accused terrorist sat quietly in the federal courtroom, responding on to a few yes-or-no questions from Judge Lewis Kaplan.

Lawyers in the case say a hearing will be held April 8 to schedule the trial date which is said to last an estimated three weeks. Prosecutors will comb through pages of transcripts and a number of videos of Ghaith calling for forces around the world to attack the United States.

Conservatives and a number of republicans have objected to criminal proceedings for terrorist suspects, saying someone like Ghaith should be tried by military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and not less than a mile from the site of the 9/11 attacks.