Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) has introduced the “Detainee Trials at Gitmo Act” to require all detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay be tried in military commissions at Guantanamo Bay. This bill would prevent detainees from being transferred to cities like New York or Washington D.C. for civil trials. This practical legislation would require they be tried in military commissions in the courtroom facility constructed at Guantanamo Bay.

“Military commissions have been used from the early years of our nation, so what has changed about this process that now makes it unacceptable?” said Rooney. “It is a mistake to expose these dangerous terrorists to our civilian criminal justice system and give them the same constitutional rights of every American citizen. Military tribunals can provide due process while also protecting intelligence officials and evidence.”

“Last Spring I had the opportunity to visit the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. I was amazed at the millions of dollars which are continuing to be spent to build a state of the art facility that includes a large courtroom to try detainees. This courtroom is a more than adequate facility for the military to use for tribunals. It makes no sense for us to spend additional millions to try terrorists such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in civilian courts in the U.S. when we already have the facility and process to do this at Guantanamo.”

P.O. Box 512332 Punta Gorda, FL 33951-2332

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