Opening statements began this week for Sayfullo Saipov — the man accused of driving a pickup truck into pedestrians on a New York City bike path on Halloween in 2017. Eight people died that day and more than a dozen were injured.
Saipov, a 34-year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan, faces 28 counts of murder, attempted murder and other terrorism charges. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to a criminal complaint, Saipov knowingly provided material support or resources “to a foreign terrorist organization, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (‘ISIS’).” The complaint also said his cell phone contained “approximately 90 videos, many of which appear to be ISIS-related propaganda.”
The attack on the bike path that day is considered the deadliest terror attack in New York since 9/11. When it happened, former President Trump tweeted “SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!” and his attorney general ordered prosecutors to seek capital punishment in the case.
With a new president and attorney general, Saipov’s representation pushed back on the directive. But President Biden’s Attorney General, Merrick Garland, is continuing to pursue the death penalty for this case despite his moratorium of federal executions in 2021.
