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KSM Probably Won't Be Tried Anywhere Any Time Soon
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 13, 2010
Modified Nov 13, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 13, 2010
Modified Nov 13, 2010
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Looks like there won't be a terror trial in NYC—or a military tribunal—for 9/11 "mastermind" Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: Obama Administration officials tell the Washington Post that KSM "will probably remain in military detention without trial for the foreseeable future."
Why? The answer appears to be two-fold: First, there's the massive opposition to having a civilian trial for KSM and company in NYC; when Attorney General Eric Holder mentioned he was close to a decision, Rep. Peter King (R-LI), the future chair of the Homeland Security Committee, and Senator Charles Schumer (D-Brooklyn), both spoke out against a trial in lower Manhattan. Second, according to the WaPo, "There is also little internal support for resurrecting a military prosecution at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The latter option would alienate liberal supporters."
Apparently the Obama administration believes it can hold KSM and the other terror suspects "under the laws of war, a principle that has been upheld by the courts when Guantanamo Bay detainees have challenged their detention." The administration officials say that President Obama will make the final decision and federal prosecution has not been ruled out, but "they acknowledge that a trial is unlikely to happen before the next presidential election and, even then, would require a different political environment." No kidding!
Tagged
9/11
eric holder
khalid sheikh mohammed
ksm
terror
terror trial
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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