Rethink Manhattan ... and U.S. Soil

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today responded to reports that the Obama administration is rethinking holding the trial of the 9-11 terrorists at a federal courthouse in Manhattan.  The decision to relocate the trial comes after Mayor Bloomberg publicly announced his opposition to the trial being held in lower Manhattan due to cost and security concerns. 

Ranking Member Smith issued the following statement, urging the President to rethink his plan to bring terrorists to the U.S.:

“I am pleased by reports that the Administration is rethinking locating the terrorists’ trials at the courthouse in lower Manhattan.  This is a good step in the right direction. 

“As Mayor Bloomberg made clear, the security concerns and cost of the trial to the city are significant burdens that New Yorkers should not have to bear.

“However, the larger problem with bringing terrorists to the U.S. is that once they are on U.S. soil, they will be given access to additional constitutional rights, making it harder for prosecutors to obtain a conviction. Terrorists are enemies of our country, not common criminals.  They should not be given the same rights that they sought to destroy.  Terrorists should be tried in military commissions at Guantanamo Bay.

“Guantanamo Bay is a military detention facility for terrorists on an island far away from the American people.  It is the best option with regard to cost and security.  It also ensures that terrorists will not be able to use the rights afforded to criminal defendants to obtain lighter sentences or broadcast their terrorist agenda. 

“I hope the President will not just rethink whether to have the trials in Manhattan, but whether to have the trials in the U.S. at all.  We have a better chance of successfully and safely prosecuting terrorists in military commissions at Guantanamo Bay.”