Attorneys for the two women, Noelle Velentzas and Asia Siddiqui, said they pieced together the mole’s identity and are trying to build a case that the NYPD officer attempted to entrap “harmless people” into a phony plot.
Prosecutors said, though, the pair studied bomb-making and eventually bought propane gas tanks, a pressure cooker and fertilizer. NYPD officials are concerned revealing Mel’s identity could jeopardize other investigations.