[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 15 (Tuesday, February 2, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT ARTICLE III TRIAL FOR 9/11 
          MASTERMIND KHALID SHEIK MOHAMMED AND CO-CONSPIRATORS

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                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 2010

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing bipartisan 
legislation with Sen. Lindsey Graham to prohibit the use of Department 
of Justice funds for a civilian trial for Khalid Sheik Mohammed--9/11 
mastermind and murderer of journalist Daniel Pearl--and four other co-
conspirators in any community in the U.S. I feel this legislation is 
critically needed in light of the attorney general's dangerous 
mismanagement of this trial. This legislation is similar to an 
amendment I offered to fiscal year 2010 appropriations legislation, but 
was defeated on a party-line vote late last year.
  Last November, Attorney General Eric Holder unilaterally announced 
that Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his four co-conspirators currently held 
at Guantanamo Bay would be tried in the heart of New York City in a 
civilian trial. Alarmingly, the attorney general did not consult with 
any local leaders, including New York City Police Commissioner Raymond 
Kelly or Mayor Michael Bloomberg. If he had, he would have better 
understood the dangers and cost of this approach. The trial, as 
planned, is estimated to cost taxpayers at least $250 million per 
year--for a total expected cost of more than $1 billion.
  Upon reviewing the costs and security concerns from the New York City 
Police Department last week, Mayor Bloomberg stated, ``It would be 
great if the federal government could find a site that didn't cost a 
billion dollars, which using downtown [New York City] will. [The trial] 
is going to cost an awful lot of money and disturb an awful lot of 
people.'' Shortly thereafter, scores of local, state, and congressional 
leaders from the New York region withdrew their support and encouraged 
the attorney general to reverse this reckless decision.
  However, in light of this collapsing support from local leaders for 
the trial, I am concerned that the Obama Administration is now ``venue 
shopping'' for a new city to hold this trial in order to save face. 
This approach is no less dangerous, costly and disruptive to other 
communities under consideration than it was for New York City.
  The legislation Sen. Graham and I are introducing today would 
explicitly block this dangerous and wasteful trial from any domestic 
civilian court and, hopefully, compel the attorney general to work with 
Congress on a safer and more appropriate option. However, our 
legislation would still allow for a military commission at Guantanamo 
Bay or on a secure military base inside the U.S. This is a reasonable 
approach that allows the administration to try these murderous 
terrorists in an appropriate military commission. These detainees do 
not deserve more rights than an American service man or woman that is 
tried by military court.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important 
legislation. The attorney general does not have a blank check to try 
dangerous terrorists in the venue of his choice. This must be a 
decision made in consultation with local leaders, Congress and the 
American people.

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