Posted on 11/26/2009 4:16:39 AM PST by IbJensen
CNSNews.com) – Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) told CNSNews.com that civilian courts are well-suited to prosecute al Qaeda terrorists and that "if people don't believe in our system, maybe they ought to go somewhere else.”
Conrad also dismissed a question about the rights of terrorists captured on foreign battlefields and the rules of evidence in terms of a civilian court trial as not serious.
Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Nov. 13 that five suspects in the 9/11 attacks would be tried in a civilian court in New York City instead of facing a military trial.
On Capitol Hill on Nov. 19, CNSNews.com asked Conrad: “We’re going to have a civilian trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. If our troops--the evidence against him is going to be found in Afghanistan, there on the battlefield--if our troops need to enter a house and they think that there’s evidence there, should they have to establish probable cause and get a search warrant from a judge first?”
Conrad said: “You’re not being serious about these questions, are you?”
CNSNews.com: “[Yes], in a civilian trial. If I was on trial or you were on trial, that would have to be [done].”
Conrad responded, “We have tried terrorists in our courts and done so very successfully in the past and that is our system. So if people don’t believe in our system, maybe they ought to go somewhere else. I believe in America.”
The Fourth Amendment, which protects all defendants in civilian courts, prohibits the government from searching or seizing evidence without first establishing probable cause and obtaining a warrant--based on that probable cause--from a judge.
The Fourth Amendment reads: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
According to the Supreme Court in Weeks v. United States (1914), the government cannot use evidence obtained without a search warrant.
“The tendency of those who execute the criminal laws of the country to obtain conviction by means of unlawful seizures and enforced confessions, the latter often obtained after subjecting accused persons to unwarranted practices destructive of rights secured by the Federal Constitution, should find no sanction in the judgments of the courts, which are charged at all times with the support of the Constitution, and to which people of all conditions have a right to appeal for the maintenance of such fundamental rights,” the Court found.
What does N. Dakota have that we can “Boycott” .. ???
just asking...
Well conservatism will get a BIG BOAST with a circus such as this and 2010 and 2012 will be very interesting.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your dear ones!
Folks in ND must love the guy.
Well, in Grand Forks they used to make about 75 percent of MacDonalds French Fries and hash browns. ND also is the largest grower of red Durum Wheat, the stuff used to make good pasta, and they grow most of the Sun Flowers used to make oil.
“if people don’t believe in our system, maybe they ought to go somewhere else.”
Throw it back at him. People who don’t believe in capitalism should go somewhere else. People who want to re-invent the Constitution should go somewhere else. People who want to increase taxes should go somewhere else. People who want to “change” the system should go somewhere else.
My sister, who is on the other side of the spectrum politically and spiritually, said KSM should have been turned over to the world court. I lost it on her. And she’s retired Navy too.
It is not so much love as the fact that Conrad, Dorgan, and the other doofus run on the platform of how much cash they bring back to ND. Not much else.
I spent over eight years up there and found that as a society ND is mostly mercenary. Money is at the root of their politics and that s why Quentin Burdik was elected over and over again until he was so feeble his aides were actually doing some of his voting for him.
They bring home cash and the rest is ignored.
Remember this guy come election day and help him find a new place of employment.
Ah, one of the “America, hate it or leave it!” crowd.
“Does anybody, anyone at all still believe we have a representative form of Government? The outright arrogance and stupidity of these criminal senators and those in the other house is astounding!!!”
To answer your question re a representative form of government: On paper, we DO have a representative form of government; in practice, it is clearly evident that we do NOT.
I think it is abundantly obvious we need to clean house.
I can’t comment on this. It’s been since the Clintoon Admin since a Federal Agent has graced my doorstep. Let me just say what a stinking pant load this turd is.....
Yet another DIM-oc-RAT joker telling Americans to leave the USA and wanting terrorists to come here and get the rights of citizens. Can I vote this cretin out today???????? Have a great Thanksgiving.
We’ll all be wishing we could “go somewhere else” after the jihadi In Chief and his gang-bangers have finally destroyed America.
“My solution is this: Turn the bastards loose. Deliver them back to their homeland. Then, let the American Warriors hunt them down and kill them.”
No, I don’t want to have to travel afar in order to fill my tag. Best let them loose around here so we can dispatch them without wasting time traveling and having the inconvenience of putting up with their shithole homeland’s culture.
bump
Imagine that - a democRAT selectively quoting the 4th amendment as it allegedly applies to a terrorist. They don’t believe that it applies to a law-abiding citizen, though.
Mmyeah, Kent. Twirl that flag and sing “The Star-Spangled Banner”. USA. USA. USA. Feel my enthusiasm.
Seriously, as much as I’m concerned about whether your average judge in the Southern District of New York will allow this horror show on the road in the first place, let alone let it proceed to a conviction, I’m even more concerned about security. The Secret Service can’t even keep a couple of unarmed, non-violent, uninvited slobs out of a state dinner on the lawn at the White House. So you’ll understand if I’m a little bit dubious that the U.S. Marshals Service is going to get through this fiasco without anything bad happening to themselves or anyone else.
These f’rs think they run the world. They do right now, but next year is gonna be rough for them. Sooner or later people rebel against tyrants... And it is usually not peaceful...
I see a great political ad against Sen. Conrad.
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