article_snippet.sent: Authorities allege some of the men made repeated attempts to get to Syria, and had developed a plot to get fake passports and travel overseas through Mexico.
article_snippet.sent: According to an FBI affidavit, the government's months-long investigation was aided by recordings made by a man who once planned to travel to Syria, but then decided to cooperate.
article_snippet.sent: In court, defense attorneys questioned the FBI Special Agent Harry Samit about the government's payments to the informant.
article_snippet.sent: Defense attorneys also questioned how the FBI the FBI could take the informant's word when the informant previously lied about his own involvement.
article_snippet.sent: Defense attorneys also asked why only some of the informant conversations were recorded, and whether it was the informant's idea to pursue fake passports to get to Syria.
article_snippet.sent: Harry Samit said the informant was being asked to gather evidence against people involved in 'the most violent terrorist group in the world.' 'Harry Samit's exposing Harry Samit to a certain element of danger,' Harry Samit said.
article_snippet.sent: Harry Samit also said the investigation was broader than just the informant's evidence, and agents verified some details through agents own surveillance.
article_snippet.sent: The fake passports were initially Abdurahman's idea, Harry Samit testified, but when that fell through, the FBI suggested the informant come up with the informant own way to get fake passports.
article_snippet.sent: High security: Agents were seen patrolling the area with sniffer dogs during the controversial proceedings .