Grassley opposes moving terrorists to NY, Midwest

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley today questioned Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to try terrorist detainees in a New York court and said he opposes moving detainees from Guantanamo to Midwest prisons.

"I think it brings legitimacy to terrorism that they have the constitutional rights of every other criminal in America,” Grassley said in a conference call with reporters. “They have more constitutional rights as terrorists in our courtroom in New York than our own soldiers putting their life on the line in the battlefield have if they were court-martialed.”

In a Senate hearing this morning, Grassley questioned Holder about the decision and the attorney general's comment that even if the terrorism suspects are not convicted they won't be turned loose.

“He knows I'm not a lawyer and I don't intend to sound like a lawyer because I told him I'm a farmer,” Grassley said. “So I told him it's my understanding that if they aren't convicted they go back to the status of not being a criminal in our court of law, being tried under out U.S. Constitution. They're going to be enemy combatants, so you're back to square one? So why did you move them in the first place? It's ridiculous.”

Grassley also said he had 10 calls this morning from Iowans opposing transferring terrorism-detainees from Guantanamo to the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., which has emerged as a leading option for prosecution and incarceration.

“I think I would have to have my head in the sand if I didn't assume that Iowans would be somewhat fearful,” Grassley said. He recalled Clinton area residents were concerned about the prison when it was built – even before there was any suggestion terrorists would be housed there.