[JURIST] Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, a former high school valedictorian in Virginia, has been charged with conspiring to assassinate President Bush and with supporting al-Qaida. Abu Ali made an initial appearance in federal district court Tuesday to face charges. The indictment alleges that Abu Ali plotted with an unidentified person in 2002 and 2003 on several methods to kill President Bush. During the hearing, Abu Ali, a US citizen, claimed he was tortured while being held in Saudi Arabia since June 2003. In December 2004, the US government was ordered to provide information [Washington Post report, registration required] on its role in Abu Ali's detention in Saudi Arabia, and the US government later told Saudi Arabia [Washington Post report, registration required] to either charge Abu Ali or repatriate him. AP has more.

11:55 AM ET – A Department of Justice press release is now available. According to DOJ, Abu Ali was returned to the US from Saudi Arabia late Monday, and a six-count indictment was unsealed at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

2:45 PM ET – Read the indictment [text, PDF] in the case.