BLUNT-BACKED BILL REQUIRES ADMINISTRATION TO PUT AMERICANS´ RIGHTS OVER TERRORISTS´ RIGHTS
Congressional Desk
February 06, 2010
WASHINGTON--Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt signed onto legislation (HR 4503) which would renew the policy of treating suspected terrorists as war criminals – not common criminals.
Blunt co-sponsored legislation, drafted by Congressman Lamar Smith (Texas), which would require the Department of Justice to consult with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense before a criminal interrogation of a suspected terrorist occurs.
"It´s time for this Administration to put aside their pre-9/11 mentality and stop putting the rights of suspected enemy combatants above the rights of American citizens," Blunt said. "These suspected terrorists should be interrogated by intelligence officials and prosecuted via the military tribunal process."
In recent months, a number of suspected terrorists, including the Christmas Day plotter, were processed through the American justice system as though they were common criminals. After trying to blow up a Detroit-bound aircraft, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was read his Miranda rights and assigned an attorney. The Administration did not consult with the DNI, the Secretary of Homeland Security or the NCTC Director.
"This breakdown in communication among those responsible for homeland security at the highest levels created a situation in which a terrorist, who nearly blew up an airliner over a major American city, was treated like a common criminal," Blunt said. "The right hand didn´t know what the left hand was doing, and Americans´ safety was at risk."
Blunt co-sponsored legislation, drafted by Congressman Lamar Smith (Texas), which would require the Department of Justice to consult with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense before a criminal interrogation of a suspected terrorist occurs.
"It´s time for this Administration to put aside their pre-9/11 mentality and stop putting the rights of suspected enemy combatants above the rights of American citizens," Blunt said. "These suspected terrorists should be interrogated by intelligence officials and prosecuted via the military tribunal process."
In recent months, a number of suspected terrorists, including the Christmas Day plotter, were processed through the American justice system as though they were common criminals. After trying to blow up a Detroit-bound aircraft, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was read his Miranda rights and assigned an attorney. The Administration did not consult with the DNI, the Secretary of Homeland Security or the NCTC Director.
"This breakdown in communication among those responsible for homeland security at the highest levels created a situation in which a terrorist, who nearly blew up an airliner over a major American city, was treated like a common criminal," Blunt said. "The right hand didn´t know what the left hand was doing, and Americans´ safety was at risk."
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