Patrick Syring
Encyclopedia
William Patrick Syring, who uses his middle name, Patrick, (born August 30, 1957 in Toledo, Ohio
), is a retired American career diplomat who was convicted of threatening and violating the civil rights of James Zogby
, the president and founder, and other senior employees of the Arab American Institute
during the 2006 Lebanon War. Syring pleaded guilty to the charges June 12, 2008, was sentenced to prison July 11, 2008, and was released January 2009.
.
Syring retired from the State Department in July 2007. His 2006 retirement application predated the seven anti-Arab and expletive-laced voice and email messages he sent to selected, senior employees of the Arab American Institute
. Syring's retirement concluded a career of nearly 26 years at the State Department.
in July 2006, during the 2006 Lebanon War. A Federal Grand Jury
in the District of Columbia returned an indictment on August 15, 2007, charging Syring with violation of Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 875(c), threatening messages in interstate commerce to injure an individual, and violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 245(b)(2)(C), by threat of force or use of force, to interfere with the civil rights of the founder and employees of the Arab American Institute.
Syring identified himself in the voice mails he left at the headquarters of the Arab American Institute on July 17, 2006, in which he stated "the only good Arab is a dead Arab." From July 17, 2006 to July 29, 2006, Syring sent seven email and voice mail messages to the Arab American Institute headquarters offices from his home in suburban Virginia. The indictment claims Syring "did willfully intimidate and interfere with Arab American Institute employees because of their race and national origin," and "threatened to injure Arab American Institute employees".
Asked about Syring, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
said on August 16, 2007, "Let me just underline the seriousness with which the Secretary approaches the idea that the State Department should be a workplace that in no way, shape or form, tolerates discrimination or hateful language or any other action that would violate federal laws or regulations. It is just not condoned or acceptable in this department."
On August 16, 2007, the Arab American Institute issued a statement that said "The threats were both intimidating and frightening – and the fact that the defendant was a 20-year career officer at the Department of State made it of even greater concern."
He pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges on June 12, 2008, was sentenced on July 11, 2008 to one year in prison, but was released from prison in January 2009. He was fined , paid in July 2008, followed by 3 years of post-release supervision, completed January 2012, and 100 hours of community service, completed in April 2009.
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
), is a retired American career diplomat who was convicted of threatening and violating the civil rights of James Zogby
James Zogby
James J. Zogby is the author of Arab Voices and the founder and president of the Arab American Institute , a Washington, D.C.–based organization which serves as a political and policy research arm of the Arab American community. He is a senior analyst with his brother's polling firm, Zogby...
, the president and founder, and other senior employees of the Arab American Institute
Arab American Institute
Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute is a non-profit membership organization based in Washington D.C. that focuses on the issues and interests of Arab-Americans nationwide. James Zogby, brother of pollster John Zogby, is founder and president of the AAI....
during the 2006 Lebanon War. Syring pleaded guilty to the charges June 12, 2008, was sentenced to prison July 11, 2008, and was released January 2009.
Background
From 1993 to 1994, and from 1998 to 1999, Syring was consular/commercial officer at the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. He was also posted to the United States Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1994-1998, and subsequently, to the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Office of Economic Policy Analysis, among other assignments, at the United States Department of StateUnited States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
.
Syring retired from the State Department in July 2007. His 2006 retirement application predated the seven anti-Arab and expletive-laced voice and email messages he sent to selected, senior employees of the Arab American Institute
Arab American Institute
Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute is a non-profit membership organization based in Washington D.C. that focuses on the issues and interests of Arab-Americans nationwide. James Zogby, brother of pollster John Zogby, is founder and president of the AAI....
. Syring's retirement concluded a career of nearly 26 years at the State Department.
Messages
Syring sent three voice mails and four emails to the Arab American InstituteArab American Institute
Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute is a non-profit membership organization based in Washington D.C. that focuses on the issues and interests of Arab-Americans nationwide. James Zogby, brother of pollster John Zogby, is founder and president of the AAI....
in July 2006, during the 2006 Lebanon War. A Federal Grand Jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
in the District of Columbia returned an indictment on August 15, 2007, charging Syring with violation of Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 875(c), threatening messages in interstate commerce to injure an individual, and violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 245(b)(2)(C), by threat of force or use of force, to interfere with the civil rights of the founder and employees of the Arab American Institute.
Syring identified himself in the voice mails he left at the headquarters of the Arab American Institute on July 17, 2006, in which he stated "the only good Arab is a dead Arab." From July 17, 2006 to July 29, 2006, Syring sent seven email and voice mail messages to the Arab American Institute headquarters offices from his home in suburban Virginia. The indictment claims Syring "did willfully intimidate and interfere with Arab American Institute employees because of their race and national origin," and "threatened to injure Arab American Institute employees".
Asked about Syring, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
Sean McCormack
Sean McCormack is a former United States Assistant Secretary of State. He was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Department Spokesman on June 2, 2005, and served until January 20, 2009.-Early career:...
said on August 16, 2007, "Let me just underline the seriousness with which the Secretary approaches the idea that the State Department should be a workplace that in no way, shape or form, tolerates discrimination or hateful language or any other action that would violate federal laws or regulations. It is just not condoned or acceptable in this department."
On August 16, 2007, the Arab American Institute issued a statement that said "The threats were both intimidating and frightening – and the fact that the defendant was a 20-year career officer at the Department of State made it of even greater concern."
Disposition
Syring pled not guilty on August 30, 2007, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. On November 19, 2007, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly denied a motion from Syring to dismiss the charges against him, ensuring that the case would go to trial. "Whether [the] Defendant’s communications constituted a true threat," Kollar-Kotelly wrote, "is an issue properly left to the jury." In the memorandum opinion November 19, 2007, the U.S. District Judge added "the Court agrees with Defendant that on its face the Indictment does not present a compelling case. Nevertheless, even based on the meager context alleged in the Indictment, it is possible a reasonable jury could interpret Defendant's communications as 'a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals.'" In an order filed December 14, 2007, Syring's trial was tentatively rescheduled to begin February 11, 2008, but was subsequently rescheduled.He pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges on June 12, 2008, was sentenced on July 11, 2008 to one year in prison, but was released from prison in January 2009. He was fined , paid in July 2008, followed by 3 years of post-release supervision, completed January 2012, and 100 hours of community service, completed in April 2009.