White House Considers Changing Venue of Terror Trial

1/29/2010

Source

White House Considers Changing Venue of Terror Trial
By DIONNE SEARCEY And PETER WALLSTEN

The Obama administration appears to be backing away from the plan to try the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City.

The White House's revised stance comes amid calls from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others that the trial should be moved out of Manhattan due to security costs, traffic delays and fears of new attacks.

The White House is considering moving the 9/11 hijacker trial from Manhattan, after loud opposition from Mayor Bloomberg and New Yorkers, Doug Luzader reports. Courtesy Fox News.

In November, Attorney General Eric Holder said Khalid Shaikh Mohammed would be tried in the Southern District of Manhattan, just blocks from the World Trade Center site.

On Thursday, the White House reaffirmed that it wanted Mr. Mohammed tried in the U.S. "The president is committed to seeing that he's brought to justice. He agrees with the attorney general's opinion in November that he and others can be litigated successfully and securely in the United States of America, just like others have—like [alleged shoe bomber] Richard Reid," said White House spokesman Bill Burton.

But Mr. Burton seemed to leave the door open to moving the trial away from downtown Manhattan.

On Friday, an administration official said the White House and the Justice Department have discussed alternative locations should Congress or local courts make it impossible to hold the trial in lower Manhattan.

In recent days, a not-in-my-backyard spirit has been gaining momentum across lower Manhattan. Residents, businesses, real-estate groups and elected officials have aired new objections to the idea of hosting what could be a multiyear trial that they say could snarl traffic and invite more attacks. City officials have estimated police costs to secure the trial at more than $200 million.

Mr. Bloomberg, who initially supported holding the trial in the city, now says he hopes Mr. Holder and the president will change their minds and move the trial elsewhere. Thursday, he suggested holding it at a military installation "away from central cities" and said he had placed a call to the attorney general, apparently to discuss his sentiment.

Police officers outside the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in November. The court is just blocks from the World Trade Center.

"Would I prefer that they did it elsewhere? Yes, but if we are called on, we will do what we're supposed to do," Mr. Bloomberg told reporters, noting that he hadn't heard back from Mr. Holder.

A Justice Department spokesman said in a statement only that the agency is confident it can safely prosecute this case in the Southern District "while minimizing disruptions to the community to the greatest extent possible, consistent with security needs."

Meanwhile, Republicans are using opposition to the venue to build an argument for the 2010 congressional elections that Mr. Obama and his party are weak on national-security issues and terrorism.

The GOP, whose leaders believe that national security can be a top issue for many voters, has charged that the Obama administration's initial reaction to the attempted bombing of an airliner on Christmas Day—including a comment by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that the "system worked"—shows the administration doesn't recognize the terrorist threat facing the U.S. Ms. Napolitano said her comment was misunderstood, and Mr. Obama has stressed that he sees the U.S. as being at war with al Qaeda.

The New York trial was an issue in this month's special Senate election in Massachusetts, with Republican Scott Brown declaring in his victory speech that "in dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them."

Republicans have recently been joined by others across the aisle in siding with Mr. Bloomberg. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) also took up the mayor's cause.

"I think he has a good point. I think the administration should listen to that point," she said recently on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports." "If there is any evidence that this is going to either make New York City a target or present unusual expenses, and the mayor—and I've been a mayor—should be listened to."

On Wednesday, six senators—three Republicans, two Democrats and independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman—sent a letter calling on the administration not to hold the trial in lower Manhattan. One of the Democrats, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D., Ark.), is facing a difficult re-election campaign.

Locally, opposition from politicians, businesses and residents was becoming increasingly vocal. Democratic New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said in a statement Thursday that he was urging Mr. Holder "to assess the feasibility of alternative sites and choose one that will not further burden the residents and businesses of lower Manhattan."

The Real Estate Board of New York, set up a Web site, movethetrial.com, to rally support for pushing it out of lower Manhattan.

"The last thing we need is for small businesses and retail and restaurants that have opened downtown [since the 2001 attacks] to find they no longer have a clientele," said Steven Spinola, the board's president.

Also, a neighborhood committee of lower Manhattan residents passed a unanimous resolution to urge that the attorney general consider military installations in New York that could be more easily secured and less disruptive.

Comments

Add Comment

Name: *
Comment *
* Required Enter the security characters: