Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Attorney General Eric Holder lacks authority to make a decision on moving terror detainees to civilian courts for trial, one of his predecessors said Wednesday.

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who held his position during the Bush administration from 2001-2005, said that Holder lacked the legal standing to decide to move alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and other terror detainees to federal courts in New York City to stand trial.

"The attorney general doesn't have the authority to mandate that the secretary of Defense turn somebody over to him and yield jurisdiction so that something that would have been done in a military setting is done in a civilian setting," Ashcroft told the Christ Stigall show on KCMO radio this morning.

"I believe that this is a decision that comes as a result of the president making the decision, or if not making the decision, allowing an attorney general to do what he normally doesn't have the authority to do, and could only do at the acquiescence of the president," the former AG and former Missouri senator argued.

President Barack Obama has said that he instructed Holder to make an independent determination on the best way to proceed against the terrorist detainees.

"You know, I said to the attorney general, make a decision based on the law," Obama said in an interview on CNN this morning.

The president has backed Holder's decision, saying he has confidence in the court system to resolve the cases, including a potential death sentence for the defendants.

Ashcroft said his own experience as attorney general led him to his conclusion about Holder's authority.

"The office of Attorney General doesn't have the power or authority to do this on its own, in my judgement," he explained. "Of course, my judgment can be flawed -- I spent a few years there and considered these kinds of issues."

IS IT JUST ME WHO THINKS THIS IS "HUGE" or is this much ado about nuttin?

I posted excerpts about this, this afternoon after I heard Rush mention it, and got almost no reaction from fellow Freepers.

I had meant to post the question yesterday as this has been bothering me but now I don't have to as I believe Ashcroft has answered the "authority" question for me

After all, IF the AG can assume the "authority" to order the Military to relinquish jurisdiction over KSM and the other scumbags, what is to prevent him from ordering the Military to take other actions, based upon his "sole" discretion?

Again, much like when Holder could not answer Twinky Grhamnesty's question about precedent for this kind of action, I don't think (to my knowledge) the DOJ has ever tried to usurp powers not delegated to it under any authority and attempt to "order" the military to do anything, after all, the military answers only to the President, right?

Now, it remains to be seen what--if anything--will come of this.

While I claim to be a student of the law, (though background and education is in business) I would like to hear from some of you who might be more knowledgeable about the law as to what, IF anything could be undertaken (not to prevent this, cuz its more than likely a done deal) but to FORCE Dear Leader to put his "Official" imprimatur thereon so that when the sheet hits the fan (which it will) he can NOT weasel his way out of this and claim it was all Holder's doing.

So, does anyone think that someone from NYC might have standing to challenge this in court on the authority issue? Or any other suggestions on how we might force the Liar-in-Chief to "take ownership?"

1 posted on 11/19/2009 1:44:24 PM PST by Conservative Vermont Vet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies ]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last
To: Conservative Vermont Vet

I like this, but it is preaching to the wind.

This Administration will not reverse his decision ... nor will it get to the USSC, in an expedited fashion, to get a decision.


2 posted on 11/19/2009 1:50:24 PM PST by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

Actually, this was one of the first things that occurred to me. How could he possibly take jurisdiction from the military tribunal?

It is quite possible that jurisdiction is going to be the thing that undoes all of this.


3 posted on 11/19/2009 1:50:35 PM PST by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

Huge.

If this had occured under Bush (either one), Helen Thomas would’ve popped a jugular.


4 posted on 11/19/2009 1:51:05 PM PST by WestTexasWend
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

Has anyone seen anything which indicates WHEN this NYC circus trial might begin?


5 posted on 11/19/2009 1:53:50 PM PST by noexcuses
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

Exactly Obama is full of this kind of crap. Making it appear that he is staying centrist when in fact he is making decisions in support of the fringe wacky wingnut left in his party.

Yes Obama needs to take ownership of this. Because nothing good can come of it. He has already pre-judged the case tainting an already tainted jury pool. Will there be a single muslim allowed on the jury? How can a devout muslim convict someone that insists that he is following the Koran?

The only fair way that this could have been handled was in the military system but Obama trying to do everything opposite of what Bush did so he can try and stick it in the eye of the Bush Administration has just stepped in it royally by making this bad decision.


6 posted on 11/19/2009 1:54:00 PM PST by Typical_Whitey (Eric Holder and Obama are making a mockery of our justice system.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

>> any other suggestions on how we might force the Liar-in-Chief to “take ownership?”

Sure. Just let nature take its course. There isn’t a sane person in the US that believes that this is all Holder and no Obama. He owns it, all right.

And if Obama tries to duck it down the line, he’ll look like an idiot and pay a HUGE price, politically.

The Obamistration has screwed itself big time with this one. I am beginning to believe there are no bounds on their incompetence. I just hope their foulups don’t cost innocent Americans their “blood and treasure” (but of course they will).

Just my 2c


7 posted on 11/19/2009 1:54:00 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Stop dissing drunken sailors! At least they spend their OWN money.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

Has anyone seen anything which indicates WHEN this NYC circus trial might begin?


8 posted on 11/19/2009 1:54:06 PM PST by noexcuses
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

The rules and protocol are no longer valid due to the dumbing down of America combined with the complete lack of integrity and utter stupidity of our “leaders.”


10 posted on 11/19/2009 1:56:14 PM PST by subterfuge (BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

A competent and honest judge would refuse to take the case because he doesn’t have jurisdiction. Will that happen with this adminisration in any NY federal court? (yawn)

Meanwhile, the MSM is MIA...too busy fact-checking Palin’s book to notice that BO and his boys ARE ‘going rogue’.


15 posted on 11/19/2009 2:03:00 PM PST by WestTexasWend
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

It’s huge because it proves that Obama was lying through his teeth. Only the CIC could have given this kind of order. He can’t claim he voted ‘present’ for this one.


24 posted on 11/19/2009 2:18:46 PM PST by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet
I think it's HUGE!

But, nothing is going to stop these crazy, arrogant, illiterate, in-your-face jack*sses from doing as they please!

26 posted on 11/19/2009 2:31:44 PM PST by kcvl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: AdmSmith; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...

Holder has one of two jobs to do, assigned by the White House — either he MUST get convictions and life imprisonment for these terrorist a-holes, or he MUST see to it that they are NOT convicted, and released back into what passes for Moslem society. ‘Twixt the optimist and the pessimist the difference is droll...


34 posted on 11/19/2009 4:06:59 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet
I guess it doesn't matter much, the entire federal government from the executive branch, through congress to the supreme court just makes up whatever rules they want as they go along...........

no news here

36 posted on 11/19/2009 4:27:17 PM PST by KTM rider ( ..........tell me this really isn't happening ! !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet
"The attorney general doesn't have the authority to mandate that the secretary of Defense turn somebody over to him and yield jurisdiction so that something that would have been done in a military setting is done in a civilian setting," Ashcroft told the Christ Stigall show on KCMO radio this morning.

Yep!


38 posted on 11/19/2009 5:37:21 PM PST by SeafoodGumbo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

As I said in another thread about this today. Obama will say HE has the authority as CIC. He won, remember..::::rollseyes::::

I agree this is an important issue but since when has anybody stopped Obama? Everything about Obama is unprecedented.He has no respect for what any others that have gone before him say. He is an arrogant radical marxist.

God help us all.


39 posted on 11/19/2009 5:39:33 PM PST by Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet
If al-Qaeda succeeds in blowing up parts of Manhattan during this trial, or committing some other atrocity on American soil, Obama can forget about a second term, or even a “legacy”.

His name will be dirt as far as most Americans are concerned.

40 posted on 11/19/2009 5:44:12 PM PST by Deo volente (The Islamic War on the West: Fourteen centuries and counting...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

That was then , this is now. Then we as a Government, operated more or less Under the Constitution. Including its system of checks and balances.

That all changed November4, 2008. Aided and abetted by the Ministry of Misinformation, a/k/a liars and traitors, a/k/a the main stream media, the traitors who live in the United States put into political office the biggest bunch of American hating traitors that the world has ever known.

Thus, Holder and obama can do as they damn well please. Who is going to stop them? Thus far, no one has.


41 posted on 11/19/2009 5:50:04 PM PST by sport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet

All Obama has to do is tell Gates to turn them over. Of course, he would then have to personally take the responsibility, something which he is loathe to do.


42 posted on 11/19/2009 5:50:08 PM PST by expatpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet; ExTexasRedhead

This is hugh!

Maybe.


45 posted on 11/19/2009 6:01:21 PM PST by SouthTexas (God Bless our Fort Hood Troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]

To: Conservative Vermont Vet
Only the President can make this directive.

SIX CRITICAL REASONS NOT TO TRY JIHAD TERRORISTS IN AMERICAN COURTS


THE MAN WHO DESPISES AMERICA


AWAKEN, O AMERICA, YOUR LIBERTY IS CALLING (Inspiring Video)

48 posted on 11/19/2009 6:05:56 PM PST by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson