Legal Commentary

AG Eric Holder Defends Criminal Trials for 9/11 Terror Suspects

By Jeralyn

Attorney General Eric Holder today testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee. He defended the Administration's decision to try the 9/11 defendants in a federal criminal court rather than a military tribunal.

Holder defended criminal trials as a successful method for prosecuting terrorism suspects, noting that security at past trials has been tight with no incidents and they make it easier to get guilty pleas from suspects.

"They are tested ... they are secure, we have tried these cases in a safe manner," Holder told a House Appropriations subcommittee. "Our allies around the world support us in bringing these cases in (criminal) courts."

Does that mean the Administration will stick to its guns? A decision is weeks, but not months, away Holder said. Holder also said we'll never capture Bin Laden alive. I think he's right on that one. That train left the station years ago, courtesy of the Bush Administration.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 16, 2010 (boomark / email).