Judge Frees $13.4 Million for Families of USS Cole Victims

[Chris]

Judge Frees $13.4 Million for Families of USS Cole Victims

RICHMOND, Va. —  Nearly nine years after 17 sailors were killed in a terrorist attack on the USS Cole, some relatives of the victims are set to receive at least $200,000 each from Sudan, a lawyer said Tuesday.

The 33 spouses, parents and children of the sailors have fought in court for the compensation for six years. They successfully argued the Sudanese government provided support, including money and training, that allowed Al Qaeda suicide bombers to attack the Navy destroyer at a refueling stop at the Yemen port of Aden on Oct. 12, 2000. The suicide bombers were in a small boat and tore a gaping 40-foot hole in the destroyer.

The U.S. government had frozen the money in New York banks, but a federal judge recently ordered the release of $13.4 million in Sudanese accounts.

"Not one penny can replace the life of my child," said Mona Gunn of Virginia Beach, whose 22-year-old son Cherone was killed in the attack. "The sad thing is, not all family members are receiving compensation. There are mothers and fathers who lost children who aren't going to get compensation, and siblings who lost a brother or sister."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517353,00.html

[thundley4]

Why the hell did the government freeze the legally awarded money?  I never understood that.  I wonder how much interest was earned on the money in the mean time.