'Like' ISIS
Did terror group ISIS enjoy more allegiance from him than just his "like" on Facebook? Did it have significant influence on him? His social media posts showed admiration for radical Islam, but were sparse and nonpolitical.
Or was his support limited to two associates who allegedly knew about and encouraged his alleged terror attack plan?
At least one of the men connected to the plot was being encouraged to launch an attack by people connected to ISIS, who were communicating from overseas, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the investigation said. But they don't believe ISIS helped hatch a specific plan.
A law enforcement official said that interaction with ISIS included peer-to-peer communications, which are increasingly being used by jihadists and are more difficult to monitor.
Law enforcement officials said all three men were influenced by ISIS to some degree.
In 2012, Rahim posted on Facebook that he suspected the FBI had contacted him.
In a post under the alias Abdur-Rahim Al-Amreeki, Rahim apparently wrote: "Damn FBI calling my phone! ... He wanted to meet up with me and 'Talk.' HA! I said about WHAT? He said 'Sir, we have some allegations regarding you ...' I said 'REALLY?' What ALLEGATIONS? He said 'Well sir, that's what I wanted to meet up with you about. I came by your house a few times, but kept missing you.'"
The post continued: "I said, 'If you want to summon me, you summon that COURT ORDER if your allegations you claiming are true, otherwise, BEAT IT' and then I hung up."
A law enforcement official confirmed the Facebook page belonged to Rahim. The FBI has not commented on the post.
Counterterrorism officials have said they were monitoring Rahim for at least a couple of years.