February 14, 2010 2:06 PM
- Text
Biden: No Doubt Federal Trial Best for KSM
Despite criticism from a number of officials past and present, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, about the pending civilian trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President Joe Biden said on "Face the Nation" today that there is "no doubt" the federal court system provides the best way to try to accused Sept. 11, 2001 mastermind.
Attorney General Eric Holder decided to try KSM in federal court in New York, but a number of politicians, from New York and elsewhere, have since spoken out against the plan.
Appearing on ABC's "This Week," Cheney said he had similarly disagreed when the Bush administration tried shoe bomber Richard Reid in a civilian court, saying he should have been declared an enemy combatant and held in military custody. [Reid was convicted of trying to destroy an airliner in December 2001.]
"We could have put him into military custody," Cheney said.
Biden, however, said civilian trials have been more effective in keeping accused terrorists in prison.
"We have no doubt the best, most effective legal way to get his guy behind bars for the longest time and get the most information with the most certainty is in an Article Three court," he said, referring to the federal system.
Biden told moderator Bob Schieffer that the only reason the president would consider a military tribunal in the case of Mohammed is if Congress were to limit funding a federal case.
The president, however, is now waiting for a recommendation from Holder as to whether there are other options, Biden said.
In the meantime, Biden said the administration is working with lawmakers like Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham to make sure the military tribunal system would stand up to constitutional scrutiny.
He also said that the perception that if found guilty KSM is more likely to receive a greater punishment before a military tribunal than in a civilian court is incorrect.
"There have been three people tried and convicted by the last administration in military courts. Two are walking the street right now," Biden said. "There have been over 300 tried in federal courts by the last administration and by us. They're all in jail now."
Copyright 2010 CBS. All rights reserved. Attorney General Eric Holder decided to try KSM in federal court in New York, but a number of politicians, from New York and elsewhere, have since spoken out against the plan.
Appearing on ABC's "This Week," Cheney said he had similarly disagreed when the Bush administration tried shoe bomber Richard Reid in a civilian court, saying he should have been declared an enemy combatant and held in military custody. [Reid was convicted of trying to destroy an airliner in December 2001.]
"We could have put him into military custody," Cheney said.
Biden, however, said civilian trials have been more effective in keeping accused terrorists in prison.
"We have no doubt the best, most effective legal way to get his guy behind bars for the longest time and get the most information with the most certainty is in an Article Three court," he said, referring to the federal system.
Biden told moderator Bob Schieffer that the only reason the president would consider a military tribunal in the case of Mohammed is if Congress were to limit funding a federal case.
The president, however, is now waiting for a recommendation from Holder as to whether there are other options, Biden said.
In the meantime, Biden said the administration is working with lawmakers like Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham to make sure the military tribunal system would stand up to constitutional scrutiny.
He also said that the perception that if found guilty KSM is more likely to receive a greater punishment before a military tribunal than in a civilian court is incorrect.
"There have been three people tried and convicted by the last administration in military courts. Two are walking the street right now," Biden said. "There have been over 300 tried in federal courts by the last administration and by us. They're all in jail now."
42 Comments +
Popular Now in Face The Nation
- Bob Schieffer on "dumb and dumber" in Washington
- AP president blasts "unconstitutional" phone records probe
- Face the Nation transcripts May 19, 2013: Pfeiffer, Cornyn, Chaffetz & Pruitt
- Gates knocks "cartoonish" Benghazi criticism
- Adviser on White House scandals: "Partisan fishing expeditions" won't distract Obama
- May 19: Pfeiffer, Cornyn, Chaffetz & Pruitt
- Schieffer: "Welcome to dumb and dumber" in Washington
- Maya Angelou recalls her childhood on Mother's Day
- Obama cultivating "culture of cover-ups and intimidation," Cornyn says
- Face the facts: A fact check on gas prices
- Official: We knew Benghazi was a terrorist attack "from the get-go"
- Watergate: "A scandal that brought down the president"
- Face In the News: Pfeiffer defends Obama administration
- Pruitt: Justice Department's seizure of AP phone records "unconstitutional"
- Attkisson discusses "allegations of a coverup" on Benghazi
- Face the Nation transcripts May 12, 2013: Gates, Pickering, Ayotte, Durbin, and Angelou
