From there he moved to the Eastern District of Virginia, where he worked on the prosecutions of John Walker Lindh, the American who fought alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan; and Zacarias Moussaoui, the convicted al-Qaida operative who alternately claimed and denied a role in the September 11 attacks. Elston also worked on early drafts of the Patriot Act.
He then moved to the Eastern District of Virginia, where he was involved in prosecuting John Walker Lindh, an American who fought with the Taliban in Afghanistan; and Zacarias Moussaoui, a convicted al-Qaida operative who sometimes claimed or denied involvement in the September 11 attacks. Elston also contributed to the drafting of early versions of the Patriot Act.