Executive Branch Foreign Relations & International Law

Lawfare Daily: Prosecuting Terrorism and the Pursuit of Justice, with Jake Tapper

Michael Feinberg, Jake Tapper, Jen Patja
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 7:00 AM
Discussing the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of al-Qaeda operative Spin Ghul.
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Lawfare Public Service Fellow Michael Feinberg sits down with Jake Tapper, the lead Washington anchor for CNN, to discuss his new book, “Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War.” The book chronicles the investigation, prosecution, and ultimate conviction of Spin Ghul, an Al Qaeda operative who became the first major international terrorist tried in a U.S. civilian court.

Feinberg and Tapper explore what the case reveals about the American justice system in the post-9/11 era, the politics of counterterrorism, and how terrorism prosecutions have influenced the people and policies at the center of national security.

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Executive Branch Foreign Relations & International Law
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Michael Feinberg

Michael Feinberg

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Michael Feinberg is a former Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he spent the overwhelming majority of his career combatting the PRC’s intelligence services. He is a recipient and multiple times nominee of the FBI’s highest recognition, the Director’s Award for Excellence, as well as numerous other Bureau honors and ODNI commendations. Prior to his service with the FBI, he was an attorney in both private and public practice. The opinions presented here are entirely his own and not that of the U.S. government.
Jake Tapper

Jake Tapper

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Jake Tapper is the lead Washington anchor for CNN. He is the author of “Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War.”
Jen Patja

Jen Patja

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Jen Patja is the editor of the Lawfare Podcast and Rational Security, and serves as Lawfare’s Director of Audience Engagement. Previously, she was Co-Executive Director of Virginia Civics and Deputy Director of the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier, where she worked to deepen public understanding of constitutional democracy and inspire meaningful civic participation.
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