Congress members from Mich. raise concern about cost of trial for Detroit plane attack suspect

Concern raised over cost of plane attack trial

DETROIT — Michigan’s entire congressional delegation has told Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano it wants assurances the federal government will pay for security at the trial of a man accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound flight.

The 17 lawmakers wrote to Napolitano on Thursday, saying her earlier responses were “insufficient.”

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (OO’-mar fah-ROOK’ ahb-DOOL’-moo-TAH’-lahb) of Nigeria is accused of trying to set off a bomb aboard a plane from Amsterdam on Christmas Day last year. He’s awaiting trial in Detroit.

The letter criticizes Napolitano’s earlier response that money could come from a program that didn’t get congressional funding.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said the department would respond directly to the members of Congress.