Man who claims he overheard terror call sues mayor

Erica D. Johnson

Monday, June 30, 2003 | 11:28 a.m.

Michael Hamdan, the local man who went to the FBI with claims that his cell phone intercepted two men plotting a terrorist attack on Las Vegas, has filed a defamation of character lawsuit against Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

In the lawsuit filed June 18 in District Court, Hamdan accuses Goodman of publicly ridiculing him in the media after Hamdan told local authorities that his cell phone picked up a conversation between two Arabic-speaking men in June 2002.

According to the lawsuit, Goodman "made defamatory statements regarding the credibility, trustworthiness and reputation of plaintiff Michael Hamdan and did so under the color of state law."

Goodman said today he wished to reserve comment on the matter, saying he had not had a chance to look at the lawsuit.

Hamdan's attorney, Craig Marquiz, could not be reached this morning for comment.

The suit seeks an unspecified amount in compensatory damages, saying the mayor "damaged Hamdan's reputation in the community and excited derogatory opinions about him."

Hamdan's story was dismissed by the FBI after a polygraph test showed inconsistencies in his story. They said Hamdan was not credible.

The lawsuit claims Hamdan successfully passed the polygraph test.

Hamdan, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, speaks Arabic. He said that on his cell phone he heard a man speaking Arabic said, "We are here in the city of corruption, the city of prostitutes and gamblers -- the unbelievers."

He said the man also said: "They talk about freedom. We are going to hit them on the day of freedom." Hamdan interpreted that to mean an attack was planned for July 4, 2002.

Hamdan says Goodman defamed him during interviews with local and national media after Hamdan reported the conversations.

Goodman in interviews called Hamdan a "liar" and "un-American" and said he should be prosecuted for making a false claim.

"I want to whack this guy. I want to put my arms around his neck and squeeze. I want to do everything in my power to make sure he doesn't see the light of day," Goodman told a television news show.