Probation case against anti-Muslim filmmaker moves slowly and privately as protests continue
CERRITOS, Calif. - Legal experts say federal officials will likely take a long time before acting on the probation violation case of the man behind the anti-Muslim video that is inflaming the Middle East.
Investigators are trying to determine whether Nakoula Basseley Nakoula violated his probation for a 2010 check fraud conviction by uploading the film's trailer to YouTube. He is not allowed to use computers for five years.
Enraged Muslims have demanded punishment for the Egyptian-born American citizen. First Amendment advocates and President Barack Obama defend his right to free speech, though they condemn the film.
Law experts say normal cases can move quickly once a probation officer prepares a report.
They say owing to the political nature of this case, authorities are likely consulting with several federal agencies as they investigate.
