GOP lawmaker introduces bill to ban terror trials from civilian courts and NYC By Jordan Fabian - 01/28/10 02:03 PM ET The ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday introduced legislation that would prevent the 9/11 terror trials from taking place in New York City.
Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.), who represents New York City suburbs on Long Island, told the Associated Press that his bill would cut off Justice Department funding for moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to civilian courts.
The Obama administration announced last year that it would hold a trial for so-called 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and four others in civilian courts in Manhattan.
King and other Republicans have long opposed the trial, saying that it could pose a security threat to New York City and that the suspects do not deserve the legal protections of civilian courts.
While most Democrats believe that the suspected terrorists should be tried in civilian courts, some top Democrats have recently voiced opposition to their New York City location.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Thursday they should be moved as did New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D).
"I am open for the trials to be moved to another appropriate place," Gillibrand said.
Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.) also signed a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking him to move the trials.
The Obama administration has stood behind the trials and their location in lower Manhattan.
It's not clear how much Democratic support King's bill could garner, since it is meant to prevent all civilian terror trials.
