Firetxmi
11-22-2005, 11:01 AM
By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer
27 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - "Dirty Bomb" suspect Jose Padilla, held by the U.S. as an enemy combatant for more than three years, has been indicted on federal charges in Miami, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was expected to discuss the indictment at a news conference in Washington.
Padilla, a Brooklyn-born Muslim convert, has been held as an "enemy combatant" in Defense Department custody for more than three years. The Bush administration had resisted calls to charge and try him in civilian courts.
The indictment avoids a Supreme Court showdown. Padilla's lawyers had asked justices to review his case last month, and the Bush administration was facing a deadline next Monday for filing its legal arguments.
"They're avoiding what the Supreme Court would say about American citizens. That's an issue the administration did not want to face," said Scott Silliman, a Duke University law professor who specializes in national security. "There's no way that the Supreme Court would have ducked this issue."
Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051122/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/enemy_combatant_indicted
I just can't believe a U.S. citizen (whether he commited a crime or not, innocent until proven guilty still?) is held without an indictment for 3 years!Where has this country gone?
27 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - "Dirty Bomb" suspect Jose Padilla, held by the U.S. as an enemy combatant for more than three years, has been indicted on federal charges in Miami, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was expected to discuss the indictment at a news conference in Washington.
Padilla, a Brooklyn-born Muslim convert, has been held as an "enemy combatant" in Defense Department custody for more than three years. The Bush administration had resisted calls to charge and try him in civilian courts.
The indictment avoids a Supreme Court showdown. Padilla's lawyers had asked justices to review his case last month, and the Bush administration was facing a deadline next Monday for filing its legal arguments.
"They're avoiding what the Supreme Court would say about American citizens. That's an issue the administration did not want to face," said Scott Silliman, a Duke University law professor who specializes in national security. "There's no way that the Supreme Court would have ducked this issue."
Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051122/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/enemy_combatant_indicted
I just can't believe a U.S. citizen (whether he commited a crime or not, innocent until proven guilty still?) is held without an indictment for 3 years!Where has this country gone?