Benghazi suspect pleads 'not guilty' in Washington, D.C. courtroom

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Ahmed Abu Khatallah pleaded "not guilty" Monday in a Washington, D.C. courtroom where he faces 18 charges related to the 2012 attacks on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya.

Abu Khatallah was initially indicted June 26 for conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists resulting in death. On Oct. 14, the Justice Department announced 17 additional indictments, brought by a federal grand jury, that include charges of murder, attempted murder, and damage to U.S. property.

Michelle Peterson, an attorney for Abu Khatallah, told U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper Monday that "We continue to have a problem" with regard to what she asserted were unnecessarily redacted documents provided by the government concerning her client's case. Some of those redactions, she said, included names of people who have published books about or spoken publicly about the Benghazi attack.

"We have to start getting the basis" for the charges, she said in court.

Federal prosecutor Michael DiLorenzo acknowledged that the government is still coordinating with a number of agencies to facilitate the release of some 3,000 pages of documents and 150 hours of video for the defense.

When asked by the judge if there would be any more defendants charged in connection to the Sept. 12, 2012 attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others at the U.S. consulate and annex in Benghazi, DiLorenzo replied: "The investigation is ongoing."

Abu Khatallah's next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 9.