NYC Mayor Opposes President's Plan to Bring Terrorists to Manhattan for Trial
Congressional Desk
February 06, 2010
Republican Legislation Would Block Administration Efforts to Import Terrorists into the United States
Washington D.C. — The President´s plan to bring 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other terrorists to New York City for trial drew a powerful opponent: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. According to The New York Times´ City Room blog, the mayor joined a "growing chorus of people who believe the epic trial will be too disruptive and expensive for the city."
Mayor Bloomberg was quoted as saying, "It would be great if the federal government could find a site that didn´t cost a billion dollars, which using downtown will." He continued, "It´s going to cost an awful lot of money and disturb an awful lot of people."
House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA)—upon hearing of Mayor Bloomberg´s opposition to the President´s plan — stated: "Mayor Bloomberg joins the growing chorus of Americans who are opposed to the President´s plan to import terrorists into the United States. Hopefully, Mayor Bloomberg´s opposition will force the President and his Administration to stop and reevaluate whether bringing dangerous terrorists, including the man who planned the 9/11 attacks, into one of America´s greatest cities is wise. Republicans stand ready to work with the President to develop comprehensive and responsible procedures and policies to govern the detention and prosecution of terrorists captured in the war on terrorism that do not place American citizens in greater danger."
Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have introduced legislation, the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act, as an alternative to the President´s current policy. Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), in an op-ed in Town Hall, outlined the importance of the Keep Terrorists Our of America Act and stressed the Republican desire to ensure the American people are protected from these dangerous terrorists.
Boehner stated, "Republicans have offered a better solution than importing terrorists to the United States. In May, we introduced the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act (H.R. 2294) to (1) affirm Congress' opposition to transferring or releasing terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay prison into the United States; (2) prohibit the Administration from transferring or releasing any terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay to any state without express approval from the state's governor and legislature; and (3) prohibit the President from transferring or releasing a terrorist detainee into the United States unless he provides notification and certification to Congress. Our proposal reflects the will of the American people, and it puts a premium on their safety and security."
Boehner continued, "In their rush to bring Guantanamo Bay terrorists on to U.S. soil, Washington Democrats have repeatedly failed to articulate an overarching strategy to confront and defeat the terrorist threat. At the very least, the American people deserve to know how importing these dangerous terrorists and giving them the same rights as U.S. citizens will make us any safer. I have yet to see a good explanation, but Republicans will stand with Illinois families, New Yorkers, and the American people - and seek every remedy at our disposal to stop this dangerous plan."
Washington D.C. — The President´s plan to bring 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other terrorists to New York City for trial drew a powerful opponent: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. According to The New York Times´ City Room blog, the mayor joined a "growing chorus of people who believe the epic trial will be too disruptive and expensive for the city."
Mayor Bloomberg was quoted as saying, "It would be great if the federal government could find a site that didn´t cost a billion dollars, which using downtown will." He continued, "It´s going to cost an awful lot of money and disturb an awful lot of people."
House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA)—upon hearing of Mayor Bloomberg´s opposition to the President´s plan — stated: "Mayor Bloomberg joins the growing chorus of Americans who are opposed to the President´s plan to import terrorists into the United States. Hopefully, Mayor Bloomberg´s opposition will force the President and his Administration to stop and reevaluate whether bringing dangerous terrorists, including the man who planned the 9/11 attacks, into one of America´s greatest cities is wise. Republicans stand ready to work with the President to develop comprehensive and responsible procedures and policies to govern the detention and prosecution of terrorists captured in the war on terrorism that do not place American citizens in greater danger."
Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have introduced legislation, the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act, as an alternative to the President´s current policy. Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), in an op-ed in Town Hall, outlined the importance of the Keep Terrorists Our of America Act and stressed the Republican desire to ensure the American people are protected from these dangerous terrorists.
Boehner stated, "Republicans have offered a better solution than importing terrorists to the United States. In May, we introduced the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act (H.R. 2294) to (1) affirm Congress' opposition to transferring or releasing terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay prison into the United States; (2) prohibit the Administration from transferring or releasing any terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay to any state without express approval from the state's governor and legislature; and (3) prohibit the President from transferring or releasing a terrorist detainee into the United States unless he provides notification and certification to Congress. Our proposal reflects the will of the American people, and it puts a premium on their safety and security."
Boehner continued, "In their rush to bring Guantanamo Bay terrorists on to U.S. soil, Washington Democrats have repeatedly failed to articulate an overarching strategy to confront and defeat the terrorist threat. At the very least, the American people deserve to know how importing these dangerous terrorists and giving them the same rights as U.S. citizens will make us any safer. I have yet to see a good explanation, but Republicans will stand with Illinois families, New Yorkers, and the American people - and seek every remedy at our disposal to stop this dangerous plan."
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