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New York Dem support for terror trials in Manhattan wanes
Only one New York Democrat in Congress is pushing for the trial of
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to be held in Manhattan.
“We have a world class
police department, and I am confident that they have the expertise to
adequately secure our city during the trials,” said Rep. Yvette Clarke
in a statement.
New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I) was initially in favor of holding the trial in Manhattan, but is now against it.
In the wake of
the political winds shifting on Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision
to prosecute the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks a
block from where the attacks took place, some New York politicians have shifted
their positions in recent weeks. Obama administration
officials publicly have said no final decision has been made, but
privately,
they say the terror trials will not occur in Manhattan.
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) recently told the New York Daily News that
he backed Holder’s position.
“Why not bring them to New York, where they committed their act, the
scene of the crime? Why not bring them to the United States? Why not
let the world know in the middle of our pain, in the midst of all our
anguish over Sept. 11 we are big enough and democratic enough to bring
people to trial here within our territory,” Serrano said.
In
a Wednesday statement, the congressman wasn’t as adamant.
“I continue to support the president’s decision to try alleged
terrorist mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in civilian courts, whether
it is in New York City or elsewhere,” said Serrano in the statement.
New York Gov. David Paterson (D) opposed Holder’s decision from the
time it was announced. Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have
expressed that they are open to holding the terror trials in another
location.
New York Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Eliot Engel, and
Jerrold Nadler are in favor of looking at alternate locations while
Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) and Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) are against
holding the trials in the Big Apple.
Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.)
believes the decision lies in the comfort level of city lawmakers and
law enforcement. “If New York City lawmakers and law enforcement
officials are uncomfortable with the trials being held in their city,
then so am I,” said Arcuri in a statement.
Other possible trial locations in New York include the West Point Military Academy, the Stewart Airport Base and a federal prison in Otisville. All three are located in Rep. John Hall’s (D-N.Y.) district, Hall, as well as other New York Democratic lawmakers, declined to comment on the issue.
This post was updated at 11:09 p.m.
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