Bid to question shoe-bomber

Federal investigators said today that they believe it is likely that would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid has “important information” about terrorist activities, and told a judge that they would like to question him, but do not believe he is entitled to a public defender now that his criminal case is over.

Reid, a British citizen and self-described follower of Osama bin Laden, pleaded guilty in 2002 to trying to blow up a trans-Atlantic flight with explosives hidden in his shoes.