So when Holder came before the Senate Judiciary Committee for questioning Wednesday morning, Democrats and Republicans confronted the attorney general with the same question: What's the plan? And Holder had no answer.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) asked Holder about the administration's interminable deliberations over what to do with the detainees. "How far along are we?"
"Well, that is something that we're still working on," Holder said, turning on his verbal fuzz machine. "Needs to be a process . . . initial determination . . . task force . . . principals' committee . . . ongoing review . . . still working through in the interagency."
Cardin reminded the attorney general that "we're looking forward to some broader recommendations."...
The Moussaoui Trials is the best model the USA Justice Department has. Attorney General Holder needs to do his job and get these men behind bars permanently or on death row. Either way it needs to be handled. Whatever information the Gitmo detainees have is old and invaluable. We don't need them sent back to their homelands after we settle issues in Afghanistan.
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
ALEXANDRIA DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
-v-
ZACARIAS MOUSSAOUI,
a/k/a "Shaqil,"
a/k/a "Abu Khalid al Sahrawi,"
a/k/a "Shaqil,"
a/k/a "Abu Khalid al Sahrawi,"
Defendant.
Because we need a strong and effective national security policy, I hope that Attorney General Holder will honor my request to implement the increased oversight and accountability provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act, which was reported by this Committee with bipartisan support. I am enthusiastic about working with the Attorney General to improve the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to make our Government more transparent and accountable to the American people. I look forward to hearing from him this morning about the Department’s efforts to increase antitrust enforcement, combat financial fraud and health care fraud, and renew our enforcement of core civil rights laws.
I commend his resolve to use every tool in our arsenal to combat terrorism around the world and keep America safe. Our system of justice is part of that arsenal. It reflects our strength, our values, and it helps keep us safe. The Obama administration’s counterterrorism approach has led to many national security victories on the battlefield and in the courtroom. The professionals in our military, our intelligence agencies, and in law enforcement are doing their jobs and are essential partners in this effort....
http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/04/14/leahy-opening-statement-on-doj-oversight-hearing/
Leahy Opening Statement on DOJ Oversight Hearing
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,
Hearing On Oversight Of The Department Of Justice
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,
Hearing On Oversight Of The Department Of Justice
April 14, 2010
Attorney General Holder appears before the Committee today for the fifth time in this Congress. I want to thank him for his continued responsiveness to oversight requests from the Committee; it has been a marked improvement from the previous administration. I also congratulate the Attorney General on his successful trip last week to Spain, an ally that has also suffered devastating terrorist attacks, where he finalized an extensive security agreement of cooperation against terrorists and organized crimeBecause we need a strong and effective national security policy, I hope that Attorney General Holder will honor my request to implement the increased oversight and accountability provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act, which was reported by this Committee with bipartisan support. I am enthusiastic about working with the Attorney General to improve the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to make our Government more transparent and accountable to the American people. I look forward to hearing from him this morning about the Department’s efforts to increase antitrust enforcement, combat financial fraud and health care fraud, and renew our enforcement of core civil rights laws.
I commend his resolve to use every tool in our arsenal to combat terrorism around the world and keep America safe. Our system of justice is part of that arsenal. It reflects our strength, our values, and it helps keep us safe. The Obama administration’s counterterrorism approach has led to many national security victories on the battlefield and in the courtroom. The professionals in our military, our intelligence agencies, and in law enforcement are doing their jobs and are essential partners in this effort....
http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/04/14/leahy-opening-statement-on-doj-oversight-hearing/
