Just another power grab by Obama to bypass the Republican controlled House and steamroll over them.
WOLF REJECTS REPROGRAMMING REQUEST TO FUND
THOMSON PRISON EARMARK, BLASTS HOLDER ON RECORD
Letter to Holder Cites Examples of Inconsistency and Unlawful Practices Within DOJ
Washington, D.C. (July 27, 2012) – Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), chairman of the House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations subcommittee, today “unequivocally” rejected a reprogramming request to purchase the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., long designated by the Obama administration to house Guantanamo Bay detainees.
The Obama Administration last night made the formal request to the chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees that fund the Justice Department.
In rejecting the request, Wolf, in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, said that this $165 million earmark, requested by Senator Dick Durbin, “not only was never included in any bill voted upon by the Congress, but Congress has specifically denied and rescinded funding for this acquisition.”
Wolf added that the Executive Order 13457 prohibits agencies from committing, obligating, or expending funds “on the basis of earmarks included in non-statutory source.”
Wolf’s letter states that the original purpose for the acquisition of Thomson was to house terrorist detainees from the United States Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Wolf noted that despite the attorney general’s personal “commitment” not to transfer detainees to Thomson, the Congress cannot trust Holder, the Department of Justice or the administration to abide by that commitment, given its track record of repeatedly ignoring or choosing not enforce U.S. laws. Specifically, Wolf cited the 2009 effort by the Obama administration, strongly advocated by Holder, to secretly transfer and release two Guantanamo Bay detainees to Virginia.
homeland.house.gov/issues/911-trials-guantanamo
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NOTE The following press release is a quote:
homeland.house.gov/press-release/chairman-king-statement-obama-administration’s-decision-purchase-illinois-prison-where
Chairman King Statement on Obama Administration’s Decision to Purchase Illinois Prison Where it Sought to House Guantanamo Terrorists
OCT 2, 2012
Issues: 9/11 Trials / Guantanamo Detainees
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement on the Obama Administration’s purchase of Thomson Prison in Illinois:
“After widespread and bipartisan opposition to President Obama’s outrageous and dangerous plan to close the ultra-secure detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and import the terrorists to the U.S. Homeland for trial in civilian courts in New York City and elsewhere, I thought this issue was settled.
“Apparently not.
“In order to keep these terrorists out of the United States, Congress reflected the will of the American people by explicitly opposing the purchase of the Thomson Illinois prison, where the Obama Administration has sought to transfer the Guantanamo terrorists.
“Yet, in direct defiance of the will of the People, the Administration today announced that it will buy the Thomson prison for at least $165 million.
“Obama Administration officials today promised that Guantanamo terrorists will not be transferred to the Thomson prison, citing Congressional action prohibiting it. I have trouble believing Obama Administration promises.
“If the Obama Administration is willing to ignore Congress about the purchase of the Thomson prison, how are the American people expected to trust that the Administration will not ignore Congress about the transfer of terrorists into it? I pledge to continue working to keep the Obama Administration from moving dangerous terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. Homeland.”
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