HBO's 'Newburgh Sting' Doc Leaves Terrorism, Truth on Cutting Room Floor
Shocking newly-acquired video footage shows an unscrupulous government informant entrapping four unworldly men from a poverty-stricken town into a world of crime to further a post-9/11 government agenda that plays upon American fears and unfairly targets Muslim-Americans at their places of worship. That’s the compelling and provocative story that HBO Documentaries’ film, The Newburgh Sting , by directors David Heilbroner and Kate Davis, wants to tell, and does, in cinematic fashion. There’s only one problem. It’s not even remotely true. The documentary, which debuts at 9 p.m. EST July 21, covers the case of the “Newburgh 4”: James “Abdul Rahman” Cromitie, David “Daoud” Williams, Onta “Hamza” Williams, and Laguerre “Amin” Payen, who were convicted on May 3rd 2011 for “a plot to launch missiles at an Air National Guard Base at Stewart Airport in Newburgh NY, and bomb two synagogues in the Bronx.” The documentary uses highly selective edits of recorded conversations betwee