Osama Bin Laden Criminal Charges Formally Dropped

Following the death of top Al Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden last month, federal prosecutors today dropped criminal charges against him because, as ABC puts it, he'd be "unable to appear in court to answer them." There had been a criminal case against bin Laden for the bombings of U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, which killed 224 people and injured thousands. Per the Wall Street Journal, a nolle prosequi (trans: "please do not prosecute") filing was made in Manhattan federal court; Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Lewin recommended that bin Laden not be prosecuted on any of the charges -- and provided evidence, including DNA and facial recognition analysis, as well as eyewitness confirmation and more, to prove that bin Laden was indeed killed in the May 1 raid. Thus closes a chapter, of sorts, in our nation's history. [WSJ, ABC]