From Weasel Zippers:
(The Hill)- Amid fears that the White House may move the terrorist trials connected with September 11, 2001, to the Washington, D.C., region, GOP lawmakers are planning to introduce legislation that would bar the use federal funds for their prosecution in any U.S. civilian court.
The move comes as the White House, met with growing opposition, has reportedly begun considering alternative locations to the originally planned federal district court in downtown Manhattan to try the professed 9/11 “mastermind” Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four co-defendants.
The legislation expected to be introduced early next week is sponsored by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), whose district borders Washington, D.C., and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and would prohibit funding for any Justice Department prosecution in civilian courts of a person being tried in connection with the 9/11 attacks
Won't this legislation simply move the financial drain for the civilian trials to the 'states' coffers? - or are all 'federal' cases completely covered by 'federal' dollars?
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, this legislation would ensure that the Federal Courthouses themselves would not be funded in such a way as to handle a trial of the magnitude of KSM, or any other terrorist.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, however, in noting that there are State and local expenses to such a trial.
But, if the Federal Courthouse can not put on the trial in the first place, then the point is kind of moot.