By host Tom Ashbrook:

It’s not easy prosecuting terrorism cases. In a drug bust, police can catch the dealers in the act. In terror cases, they can’t wait that long. But, even given the difficulty, the record of the Bush administration on going after terrorists after 9/11 is a record of remarkable flubs. And last week came the most flamboyant flub yet.

Zacharias Massaoui made it easy. He pleaded guilty to capital murder as a conspirator in the 9/11 attacks themselves. All that was left was a sentencing trial. And last week it emerged that a government attorney had coached key witnesses. Coaching, against a judge’s direct order, is a crime.

Hear legal minds and 9/11 families talk about the mess of the Moussaoui trial.

Guests:

Johanna Neuman, she has been covering the Moussaoui trial for the Los Angeles Times

Sheila Langone, she lost her two sons September 11

Maureen Santora, her son Christopher Santora, 23, died Sept. 11

Laurie Levenson, Professor, Loyola Law School, where she is also Director for the Center for Ethical Advocacy

Mariano-Florentino Cuellar, law professor, Stanford University and former board member, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.

Paul Butler, former federal prosecutor who helped try and convict four men for the 1998 terrorist bombings of American embassies in East Africa. He is currently a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld.