THE ISSUE: Justice Dept. officials who previously represented or advocated on behalf of terrorists.
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“Come Clean, Mr. Holder” is right on the mark (Editorial, Jan. 27).
But what makes you think that anyone in the administration, elected office or on the left side of the aisle would consider disclosing which of the administration’s legal officials have represented alleged terrorists?
In 12 short months, our executive and legislative branches of government have nothing to show for all their empty promises.
Attorney General Eric Holder has shown himself to be so incompetent, I would bet my tax dollars that someone has to dress him in the morning and point him in the direction of his office.
Gregory Rando
Brooklyn
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Please hold Holder’s feet to the fire.
This administration is chock full of dubious people.
Dick Yount
Bradford, Ohio
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As a former special prosecutor in the Justice Department, I can assure you that Justice Department employees are not influencing policy to favor terrorists.
Holder and his employees took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” That is exactly what they are doing.
By transferring the trials of the 9/11 co-conspirators to federal court, the Justice Department has reestablished its commitment to our Constitution and the rule of law.
I applaud the administration’s decision to try the suspected Christmas Day bomber in federal court with an attorney as his legal advocate. Reports suggest that he already provided valuable information, and officials remain certain that he will continue to do so.
Our Constitution provides us with a system to protect us from enemies and to detain those who violate our laws. It is time we use it.
Bruce J. Einhorn
Woodland Hills, Calif.
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The constitutional justification for giving 9/11 terrorists civilian trials is a bogus one.
Holder assures us that there will be no acquittal, but, in the event that there is, he won’t release Khalid Sheik Mohammed.
If prosecutorial failure is not an option, then a just resolution is not possible.
New York City will be saddled with a paralyzing and costly multi-year “show trial” that is not really a trial at all.
If there is no possibility that KSM can be acquitted, walk down to Worth Street and catch the 6 train into Brooklyn like any other common criminal, then he does not belong in civilian court. He belongs in a duly legislated military one.
Ray Arroyo
Westwood, NJ
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The lawmakers on Capitol Hill aren’t the only ones hopping mad over this latest terrorism case; the 9/11 families are livid.
The fact that these “legal experts” who represented the Gitmo terrorists pro-bono are now charged with prosecuting them is beyond absurd.
It is they who pulled every conceivable legal maneuver to delay the military tribunals until Obama took office.
Let’s not forget that the military commission already had obtained guilty pleas from the defendants.
Now we’re going to spend a billion dollars to prosecute them and probably suffer another attack in the process.
This is what New Yorkers voted for!
Robert Reeg
Stony Point
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The next thing you know, Holder will be hiring the ACLU and Yale Law School to prosecute terrorists.
Jim Lundrigan
New Haven, Conn.
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Perhaps your excellent editorial, “Come Clean, Mr. Holder,” which notes Holder’s delay in responding to apparent improprieties in selection of questionable people for key positions in the Justice Department and disclosures required for prosecution of terrorists, should have been addressed to President Obama.
In my opinion, Holder does nothing without permission from the “boss,” who tells Holder “when, where and what” to do.
As noted, Mr. President, “It is time for the Justice Department to come clean.”
John W. Fox
Galloway, NJ