Minn. won't penalize group in Somali piracy case

A Minnesota Republican legislator has failed in his attempt to punish a Twin Cities group that helped line up an attorney for an accused Somali pirate.

The proposal would have denied non-profit tax status and prohibited grants to groups helping alleged terrorists or high-seas pirates.

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert was aiming his proposal at the nonprofit Somali Justice Advocacy Center, which has assisted the family of a man being held in connection with an attack on a U.S. ship in the Indian Ocean.

It was ruled out of order Friday when Seifert tried to tack it onto a public safety bill.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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