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Prosecutors try to ban JDL leader from charging government bias

LOS ANGELES (AP) Federal prosecutors have filed a motion seeking to prevent Jewish Defense League leader Irv Rubin from arguing in court that the government is out to get him by charging him with trying to bomb a mosque and a congressman's office.

Court documents filed Tuesday ask that Rubin be prevented from presenting evidence of government bias because it would ``confuse the issues, mislead the jury and cause undue delay.''

A hearing on the motion was scheduled for Nov. 5. Trial is scheduled Nov. 12.

``His apparent purpose however understandable is to distract the jury from the appropriate issues, that is, whether he conspired and attempted to carry out bombings of the King Fahd Mosque and the field office of United States Congressman Darryl Issa,'' according to the motion filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Rubin, 56, and JDL member Earl Krugel, 59, were arrested Dec. 11 after an FBI informant delivered an explosive powder to them. Authorities believe the powder was the last component needed to make bombs that were going to be placed at Republican Issa's San Clemente office and the King Fahd Mosque in Culver City.

The men, who are being held without bail, have denied the charges. They said the FBI informant, who was a former JDL member, made up the bomb plot and tried to entrap them in an effort to oust them as leaders of the organization.

Prosecutors also asked U.S. District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew to prevent defense attorneys from questioning the FBI informant about prior drug use and efforts to secure drugs for friends while he was in the Navy. In the motion, prosecutors said the informant has no criminal record and any questions about his past drug history would violate federal rules of evidence.

They are also seeking to prevent the defense from presenting evidence about the FBI's investigation into the 1985 murder of Alex Odeh, director of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee's West Coast office.

Rubin and other JDL members were subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury investigating Odeh's slaying, which remains unsolved. Rubin has publicly denied any involvement.

Rubin's lawyers said they want to review the government's files on the Odeh case to show that the FBI targeted Rubin because they could not implicate him in the murder.

Prosecutors argued that presenting a detailed account of the FBI's investigation would also distract the jury.

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