U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham says he’ll introduce bipartisan legislation this week that will throw a monkey wrench in plans to try terrorists in civilian court.
Graham wants to cut off funding for the trials of the September 11th conspirators in federal, civilian court, saying that a trial by military commission is the only way to go.
The Obama Administration is discussing moving the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and four 9/11 conspirators from New York City. Anonymous sources said Friday that the Department of Justice is drawing up plans for possible alternate locations to try the suspects, in case Congress or local officials prevent the trial from being held in Manhattan.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has now reversed his position and is calling for the trial to be moved, saying it will cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars to provide security for a court case expected to last at least a year.
Graham says moving the trial out of New York City addresses only half the problem. He says if the alleged terrorist conspirators are tried in civilian court, not military, they will be given the same legal rights as American citizens. The Upstate senator says, “The decision to prosecute enemy combatants like Khalid Sheikh Mohammad who were captured on foreign battlefields in civilian court is without precedent in our nation’s history. It should not stand.”
