Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh

Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh is a U.S. Air Force veteran and a would-be foreign fighter for ISIS who allegedly sought to fix the group's aircraft, and ultimately become a martyr.Jason Hanna and Joshua Gaynor, “Air Force veteran pleads not guilty to terror-related charges,” CNN, March 18, 2015, http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/17/us/former-airman-isis-charges/; John Marzulli, “ISIS wannabe Tairod Pugh, an Air Force veteran, convicted for his attempt to join terror group, fix their aircraft,” New York Daily News, March 9, 2016, http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/isis-wannabe-tairod-pugh-convicted-brooklyn-court-article-1.2558708. Pugh is a U.S. citizen and convert to Islam who has lived in New Jersey and Texas, holding several air force and airline-related jobs.“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, January 16, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/17/nyregion/criminal-complaint-against-mr-pugh.html. The year and a half prior to his arrest, he lived abroad in Egypt, Dubai, and Jordan.“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, January 16, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/17/nyregion/criminal-complaint-against-mr-pugh.html.

In January 2015, Pugh traveled from Egypt to Turkey, allegedly attempting to cross the border into Syria to join ISIS.“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, January 16, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/17/nyregion/criminal-complaint-against-mr-pugh.html. Turkish authorities stopped Pugh and forced him to return to Egypt when he refused to allow them to search his laptop.“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, January 16, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/17/nyregion/criminal-complaint-against-mr-pugh.html. After returning to Egypt, Pugh was transferred to U.S. custody. He was arrested by the FBI in New Jersey soon after his arrival.“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, January 16, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/17/nyregion/criminal-complaint-against-mr-pugh.html.

On March 18, 2015, Pugh was charged with one count of attempting to supply material support to a terrorist organization and one count of obstruction of justice.Jason Hanna and Joshua Gaynor, “Air Force veteran pleads not guilty to terror-related charges,” CNN, March 18, 2015, http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/17/us/former-airman-isis-charges/. On March 18, 2015, he pled not guilty.Stephanie Clifford, “Air Force Veteran Pleads Not Guilty in ISIS Case,” New York Times, March 18, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/19/nyregion/air-force-veteran-accused-in-isis-aid-case-pleads-not-guilty.html?_r=0. His trial—one of the first in the nation involving an American charged with attempting to join ISIS—began on February 29, 2016, at a federal court in Brooklyn, NY.Associated Press, “Defense: Islamic State group case vs. US veteran a fantasy,” Yahoo News, February 29, 2016, http://news.yahoo.com/defense-islamic-state-group-case-vs-us-veteran-180318373.html. He was found guilty in March 2016, making Pugh the first American to be convicted in a jury trial of providing material support to ISIS.Joseph Goldstein, “Tairod Pugh, Ex-U.S. Serviceman, Is Found Guilty of Trying to Aid ISIS,” New York Times, March 9, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/10/nyregion/tairod-pugh-ex-us-serviceman-is-found-guilty-of-trying-to-aid-isis.html?_r=0.

Extremist entity
ISIS
Read Threat Report
Type(s) of Organization:
Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
Position(s):
Foreign fighter

ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.

  • Rhetoric

Date Unknown

In a letter to his wife:
“There is only two possible outcomes for me [sic]: Victory or martyr.”Associated Press, “Defense: Islamic State group case vs. US veteran a fantasy,” Yahoo News, February 29, 2016, http://news.yahoo.com/defense-islamic-state-group-case-vs-us-veteran-180318373.html.

“The U.S. doesn’t like black Muslims.”“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, January 16, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/17/nyregion/criminal-complaint-against-mr-pugh.html.

“I am a Mujahid [jihadist]. I am a sword against the oppressor and a shield for the oppressed. I will use the talents and skills given to me by Allah to establish and defend the Islamic States.”“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, January 16, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/17/nyregion/criminal-complaint-against-mr-pugh.html.

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Fact:

On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers. 

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