WASHINGTON — By vigorously defending their decision to try 9/11 terrorists in federal court in New York, President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have given defense lawyers ammunition to argue their clients can’t get a fair trial, a legal expert said yesterday.
Obama put his foot in his mouth, legally if not politically, speaking about 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed, when he told NBC: “I don’t think it will be offensive at all when he’s convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him.”
Even more damaging, prominent legal scholar Jonathan Turley says, was Holder’s statement indicating the trial was being held in New York for symbolic reasons.
“Those are highly prejudicial statements and they further show a motivation in locating the trial in this particular venue,” said Turley, who has worked on terror cases.
“I would be surprised if the trial could be held there. Holder has made it much more difficult with his press conference.”