Washington – In response to today’s reports that the White House has asked the Justice Department to consider alternate locations for the planned Manhattan trials of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other alleged terrorists, U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln released the following statement:
“I have genuine concerns about using the United States criminal justice system for trying enemy combatants who are currently detained at Guantanamo Bay or who might be charged in the future with acts of international terrorism. That’s why earlier this week, I sent a letter to Attorney General Holder urging him to reconsider his decision to try the alleged conspirators just blocks away from where the twin towers once stood. I believe these individuals are war criminals and that trying them in civilian courts gives them a public forum for their cause, potentially compromises classified intelligence and unnecessarily places our national security at greater risk,” said Lincoln.
Last November, Lincoln also supported an amendment to the FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that called for the United States to try anyone suspected of involvement in the 9/11 attacks in a military commission and not a federal court.
