The suspected ringleader of the deadly terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi , Libya , will remain jailed until trial , a federal magistrate ruled on Wednesday . Ahmed Abu Khatallah appeared at a brief detention hearing in federal court in Washington where he 's accused of providing material support to terrorists . Court documents released on the eve of the hearing allege he `` conspired to participate and then participated '' in the September 11 , 2012 , attack on the American outpost in eastern Libya that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans . He previously pleaded not guilty to the charge that carries a maximum life prison sentence . More are charges are possible . Abu Khatallah , who is thought to be in his early 40s , was captured earlier this month in Libya and transferred to the United States last weekend . Authorities contend that he 's a senior leader of Ansar al Sharia , whose members were among several militias that participated in the two-pronged armed assault . Assailants armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades first blasted through the main diplomatic mission before setting it ablaze , the court papers said . Stevens and State Department information officer Sean Smith died there . A coordinated mortar assault on a nearby annex killed security officers Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty . `` The defendant 's participation in the attack was motivated by his extremist ideology , '' prosecutors said in the documents , which also alleged that Abu Khatallah `` voiced concern and opposition to the presence of an American facility in Benghazi '' days prior to the attack . Obama under fire over Benghazi suspect . Arguing for his continued detention , prosecutors said that Abu Khatallah , since the attack , `` has continued to make efforts to target American personnel and property '' and `` discuss with others his deadly and destructive intentions , '' prosecutors said . But defense lawyers contend the Justice Department has n't provided evidence to support the case . CNN 's Pamela Brown asked lead prosecutor Michael DiLorenzo about the claims from Abu Khatallah 's camp regarding pre-trial discovery . He responded that prosecutors would try the case in court . The Benghazi attack has become a political flashpoint with Republicans , especially , questioning security protections beforehand , the U.S. response during the assault , and the Obama administration 's slow-to-evolve public explanation of what transpired . GOP members also are scrutinizing how Hillary Clinton handled the matter . She oversaw U.S. diplomacy at the time as secretary of state , and questions about her responses and decisionmaking endure as she considers a run for president . Benghazi attack timeline . Benghazi mastermind captured without a single shot fired .
Brief detention hearing held in federal court in Washington . Ahmed Abu Khatallah was captured this month in Libya and transferred to the U.S . He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of providing support to terrorists . The defense claims that prosecutors are not backing up their allegations .