Pressure Mounts to Move Terror Trial

(CBS)  Updated at 11:42 p.m. ET

Pledging to bring justice to the victims of Sept. 11, Attorney General Eric Holder declared that accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would stand trial at the scene of the crime, "in a courthouse just blocks away from where the twin towers once stood."

But with mounting political pressure, the Obama Administration is now strongly considering moving the trial from Manhattan to a more remote location, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

On Friday night, an Obama administration official told major publications that the trial wouldn't be held in New York City.

KSM: Not Welcome in New York

New York officials say it would cost $200 million a year in police overtime to secure a half square mile zone around the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan. Up to 3,000 barriers would restrict traffic. Sniper teams would be positioned on rooftops with heavily armed police in the streets.

"It would turn that lower Manhattan area basically into an occupation zone," said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. "They would be living under martial law."

So, leaders in both parties have joined New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in pressing the White House to reconsider.

"My hope is that the attorney general and the president decide to change their mind," Bloomberg said.

And public opposition is growing. Retired New York City firefighter Tim Brown can't stand the idea of giving Mohammed a propaganda platform near Ground Zero.

"You are going to allow these scum to mock America, to mock the families, to mock the hero firefighters and policemen and civilian workers who were killed that day?" asked Brown.

Sources say the White House has heard the clamor and is mulling over other options.

[montani42]

It is total stupidity to have a civil trial for any terrorist. There is no upside at all. It will endanger additional Americans for no reason. It will cost millions of our tax dollars when we have a huge Demcratic generated national debt. Having the trials at Gitmo would cost very little since the military personnel are already being paid. Keeping Gitmo open is the right thing to do and the only intelligent thing to do. The ultra left supporters of "rights" for terrorists are the same people that support taking working peoples tax dollars and bribing Obama supporters for votes. Since all five of the top terrorists have already pleaded guilty, all that should be done is to sentence them to death by firing squad in Gitmo and this could be over tomorrow. I, like most veterans, would gladly volunteer to do the job and even supply the bullets. These scum bags wanted to kill innocent American women and children in the name of Islam. any red blooded American man should want to do them in. Since Obama was pals with two American terrorists and a major Palestinian terrorist supporter, it is no wonder he is looking out for these. He also wants to keep his good name in Muslim countries, because his daddy was a Muslim and he doesn't believe this is a Christian nation. He and Holder are two of a kind. The TEA Party rules!! Sign up today.

Montani (1/30/2010)

[jgg000101]

it was a dumb idea to begin with

[Tonyfrommw]

I didn't realize that New Yorkers were such P.ussi.es. Bring that POS to Wisconsin, we'll deal with him.