Detained Student's Attorney Discusses Client's Release From Egypt
Oren Liebermann reports...
PHILADELPHIA (CBS)- This is shaping up to be a happy Thanksgiving for a Montgomery County family, whose son was detained along with two other college students in Egypt. The attorney for Drexel University student, Gregory Porter, says he has secured his client's release (see related story).
Philadelphia attorney Theodore Simon was retained by Porter's parents earlier this week after their son was detained by the Egyptian government for allegedly throwing firebombs at security forces fighting with protesters.
Simon has been in close contact with his colleagues in Egypt who represented the 19-year-old Glenside student (pictured at left in photo). He says the prosecution was looking to charge him with a number of offenses, "The prosecution was seeking to enlarge the time period to detain them for further investigation. This was objected to, there was a hearing in front of a court and the court granted our request to release Greg."
The focus now he says is getting Greg home, "We have tentative plans. I would rather not say them at this minute. We're just hoping that everything continues to work in a positive direction."
He says he's been in constant contact with Porter's parents.
"We have a lot to be joyful for," added Simon, who has been working since Tuesday to secure the release of Porter.
Porter graduated in 2010 from Lasalle College High School, which is just a short drive from his mother's Glenside home. His family insists he would never do anything violent.
Still, the legal situation remains delicate. But his family says that this holiday, news that he may be home soon gives them plenty to be thankful for.
Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060; Oren Liebermann, CBS3
