Sen. Leahy seeks to apply U.S. criminal law to contractors like Blackwater

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) this week introduced legislation that would subject U.S. contractors overseas to U.S. criminal law, including private contractors involved in U.S. military actions in the Middle East. Leahy said his bill is partly a reaction to the shooting of unarmed Iraqi citizens by Blackwater security contractors in 2007.

"Tragic events in Iraq and Afghanistan highlight the need to strengthen the laws providing for jurisdiction over American Government employees and contractors working abroad," Leahy said. "The Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act accomplishes this important and common sense goal by allowing United States contractors and employees working overseas who commit specific crimes to be tried and sentenced under U.S. law."

Leahy said the incident, in which Blackwater contractors shot more than 20 Iraqi civilians, has led to various complications related to efforts to "hold the wrongdoers in this case accountable." While the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) has been amended recently, it does not cover contractors like those from Blackwater.

"Had jurisdiction in the tragic Blackwater incident been clear, FBI agents likely would have been on the scene immediately, which could well have prevented some of the problems that have plagued the case," he said.

Leahy added that Blackwater was not an isolated incident, stating that other private security contractors have been involved in "violent incidents and serious misconduct in Iraq and Afghanistan." He said as military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, MEJA will not cover the thousands of contractors who stay in these countries.

"The legislation I introduce today fills this gap," he said, adding that the bill, S. 1145, is "carefully crafted" to allow intelligence activities to continue "unimpeded."