BOISE -- Distinguished Boise lawyer David Nevin developed a very close and unique connection to the attacks of 9/11.
Nevin is one of the attorneys in the Ruby Ridge case, and went on to defend a University of Idaho graduate student who was accused of involvement with terrorist activities. Several years later, the alleged mastermind of September 11 became one of his clients
September 11 is a day seared into the minds of Americans.
"I remember where I was on September 11 and I always will," said Nevin. "And I think that in many ways it changed the world and that's part of the mixed feeling that I have when I work on this case. But at the end of the day, I do my job."
Since 2008, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has been Nevin's client. Nevin traveled to Guantanamo Bay dozens of times for his work in what is considered the largest criminal investigation in the history of the country.
"When one goes to Guantanamo, you get both of these both the mundane and the frightening all in one bite," said Nevin.
On a base Nevin describes as similar to a small midwestern town, he says his client had been held and tortured, waterboarded more than 180 times in just one month. The US government used these "enhanced interrogation techniques" to get Mohammed to admit to masterminding the attacks. Nevin and others, have issues with how the government got the confession.
"I am intently focused on the legal problems that his case presents, and as well, the social and moral problems that it presents," Nevin said.
Nevin told NewsChannel 7 that there are a lot of conflicting feelings wrapped up in September 11 and his work defending Mohammed, but his focus is on doing his job.
"I have a good working relationship with Mr. Mohammed," said Nevin. "And he is always kind and respectful with me and has always been good to his word with me and I do the same with him."
As he works with Mohammed, Nevin works to understand September 11 and what that means for his client.
"At the end of the day, any case, no matter how big, is a story about what happened and what the correct outcome of the proceedings should be, and this case will be no different," he said.
Nevin said the US Government has said that his client will never be released, even if he is acquitted. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is awaiting prosecution and faces the death penalty if convicted.