Blackwater executive blames feds [View All]

[sabra]

Source: News & Observer

RALEIGH -- The U.S. government approved both the storage of automatic weapons at Blackwater's North Carolina compound and a gift of firearms to the king of Jordan, a lawyer for the former head of the security firm said in federal court Wednesday.

"All of this was with the knowledge of, the request of, for the convenience of, an agency of the U.S. government," said Ken Bell, a Charlotte attorney representing Gary Jackson, the former president of Blackwater, who faces charges of breaking firearms laws.

Bell's comments came during a bond hearing Wednesday; a Raleigh-based grand jury indicted Jackson and four other former Blackwater employees last week. Bell said the accusations amount to mishandled paperwork, at most.

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The company, founded by former Navy Seal Erik Prince, is also accused of illegally possessing short-barreled rifles, which are restricted for civilian use. Bell said in court that Blackwater would send the disassembled weapons overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan for use in urban war zones where Blackwater contractors were working with the blessing of U.S. officials.



Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/04/22/448778/blackwater-exec-blames-feds.html