Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan repeatedly told Sulaiman Abu Ghaith today that he should consult another attorney before deciding whether to let Stanley Cohen continue representing him. But Abu Ghaith, who was al-Qaeda's chief spokesman after the September 11 attacks, insisted Cohen can stay on the case despite potential conflicts of interest.
Abu Ghaith was convicted in March of conspiring to kill Americans.
Last month, Cohen pleaded guilty in Syracuse federal court to impeding the IRS. He pleaded guilty today in Manhattan federal court to two related misdemeanor charges.