FBI official supports antiterror arrests of 4

The top FBI official in Detroit has insisted that his agents probably thwarted a terrorist attack by arresting four men in 2001, even though the Justice Department has withdrawn terrorism charges against them. "You should be proud of the excellent investigative work conducted by the [Joint Terrorism Task Force] in Detroit, and everyone should recognize that their efforts may have prevented another attack," Special Agent in Charge Daniel Roberts wrote last week in an e-mail to his staff. Roberts sent his memo the same day the Justice Department asked a federal judge to dismiss convictions on terrorism counts against men accused of operating a terror cell in Detroit, saying prosecutors withheld evidence from defense lawyers. (AP)

Graham accuses Bush of protecting Saudis

Former Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Bob Graham accused the White House yesterday of covering up evidence that might have linked Saudi Arabia to the Sept. 11 hijackers. Graham's allegations, made in a new book and at a news conference arranged by the John F. Kerry campaign, were rejected by Republicans as "bizarre conspiracy theories." The Saudis said Graham's allegations were unsubstantiated and reckless. Kerry has called for an independent investigation. Graham's statements support Kerry's assertions that President Bush is too close to the Saudi royal family and unwilling to pressure it to crack down on the financing of terrorists. The statements are at odds with the findings of the independent Sept. 11 commission, which reported no evidence that the Saudi government funded Al Qaeda. (AP)

Maryland

Elections official ordered back to work

ANNAPOLIS -- A judge ordered Maryland's top elections official back to work yesterday, temporarily overturning her suspension by the State Board of Elections until a hearing can take place. Linda Lamone, criticized in recent months for advocating an entirely electronic voting system, has a hearing Friday on her suspension with pay, the first step toward firing her. Lamone has taken heat for the purchase of 16,000 Diebold AccuVote-TS voting machines, a model that specialists say leaves no paper trail and is susceptible to tampering. (AP)