NEW YORK (AP) — A senior al-Qaida leader and son-in-law of Osama bin Laden has pleaded not guilty to plotting against Americans in his role as the terror network's spokesman.
Sulaiman Abu Ghaith entered the plea through a lawyer to one count of conspiracy to kill Americans in federal court in New York on Friday.
Bail was not requested at the hearing and none was set. The judge says he will set a trial date at the next conference in the case, which is scheduled for April 8. Prosecutors say a trial is expected to last about three weeks.
Prosecutors say Abu Ghaith praised the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and warned there would be more.
Abu Ghaith was born in Kuwait. Authorities say he was captured in Jordan over the last week.
Prosecutors say since his arrest, he has made an "extensive" statement, totaling 22 pages. There are no details about what he said.
President Barack Obama's administration has sought to charge senior al-Qaida suspects in American federal courts instead of military tribunals, but Republicans in Congress don't want high-threat terror suspects brought into the United States.
To watch an ABC News Digital Report on his court appearance, view the following player:
