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AG Eric Holder at his presser today says he stands by his previous decision of having a trial in federal court but he had to do this because of Congress
Holder Blames Congress for Forcing Hand on Military Commissions for 9/11 Detainees
FOX News
The mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the U.S. will be referred to the Defense Department for trial, two sources familiar with the case told Fox News on Monday.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, who has been incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since 2006, after being captured in Pakistan in 2003, and his alleged Sept. 11 co-conspirators will face prosecution by a military commission, the source said.
An announcement is expected by Attorney General Eric Holder later in the day. The decision is a turn-around after Holder said in November 2009 that he had decided the conspirators should be prosecuted in civilian court.
Congress tied the Obama administration’s hands in trying the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and his accomplices, Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday, announcing that he was left without a choice and has referred the cases to the Defense Department for trial.
In stark language, Holder lambasted Congress for imposing restrictions blocking any detainees from being tried in the U.S., saying that the “unwise and unwarranted restrictions” undermine the U.S. in counter-intelligence and counter-terror efforts.
Expressing his disappointment in no uncertain terms, the attorney general said that as a native New Yorker, he knows as well as anyone the federal court’s capacity to try the suspects. He added that he’s intimately familiar with the cases, much moreso than congressional members — or the public — who opposed allowing the cases to be held in the United States.
“Do I know better than them? Yes. I respect their ability to disagree but they should respect that this is an executive branch function, a unique executive branch function,” Holder said in a press conference.
The other terror suspects are Walid Muhammed Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, Ramzi Bin Al Shibh, Ali Abdul-Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed Al Hawsawi. The five detainees are accused of killing 2,976 people — all named in an 81-page indictment dismissed and unsealed Monday by a federal judge.
“Because a timely prosecution in federal court does not appear feasible, the attorney general intends to refer this matter to the Department of Defense to proceed in military commissions,” reads the order to dismiss signed by U.S. District Judge Kevin Duffy.
Father of 9/11 Hero’s Powerful Reaction to AG Holder’s Announcement on Military Tribunals
“I am frankly shocked by the attorney general’s comments,” said David Beamer, the father of Todd Beamer, who is credited with preventing United Flight 93 from hitting its target. The plane instead crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pa
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“I am thankful that there are three branches of government. Because the last thing I want to see, or even contemplate, is KSM returning to New York City in a civilian trial where he would have an opportunity to continue his jihad by condemning America and lashing out in the well of a courtroom and reopening those wounds that he inflicted on 9/11.”
Debra Burlingame, head of 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America, said the group is “relieved” Obama “abandoned his plan” to bring the conspirators to U.S. soil.
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Wild Thing’s comment……..
God bless Todd Beamers father and what he said in the second video I posted.
The attitude from Holder as well as the attitude obama has toward Americans is a disgrace! THEY are a disgrace!
How could he blame congress anyway when it was both parties which opposed bringing him to NY city?!
They announce a 180 turn to go with popular public opinion, then blame the decision on congress all on the day Obama announces his candidacy!!!!!
Even Stevie Wonder can see that one!
So this is new, since when does what congress say have any weight on what the white house does? Watch, what they do not what that say. these people are the best Liars in the country.
obama and his administration are doing their best to destroy America’s Rule of Law as well as ignoring the rules of land warfare. obama embraces our enemies and backstabs our allies. I hope there is a treason trial in the future for obama.
I think Debra Burlingame is wrong. Obama didn’t abandon his plan, congress put a stop to it.
Mark, well said, they lie more then I have ever seen happening in the past.
Tom, I want this to happen with my whole heart!!
“I hope there is a treason trial in the future for obama.”
Bob,I agree, I like Debra and she has worked very hard to stop this trial in NY, but what she said is wrong. Also this is no time to give obama now holder a break of any kind on this.