CONYERS CALLS FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES HEARINGS

Drudge ^ | 11/14/01 | Mark Benjamin of www.insider.com

[Elkiejg]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, D-Mich., said Wednesday a decision by President George W. Bush that terrorist suspects might face a military tribunal adds to questions about civil liberties.

In a Nov. 14 letter to Committee Chairman Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., Conyers called for hearings on civil liberties, including an administration plan to monitor some defendants' communication with their lawyers, and the status of suspects detained in the government's investigations of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Conyers said Bush's Tuesday decision to establish military tribunals run by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld only adds to his concern.

"Indeed, the very purpose of the directive appears to be to skirt the usual constitutional and criminal justice rules that are the hallmark of our democratic form of government."

While Sensenbrenner did not return calls seeking comment, Conyers' request comes one day after United Press International reported that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., might soon hold hearings on the new government policy on monitoring communication between defense attorneys and their clients, and the status of what lawmakers said could be 1,000 people detained by the government. Some of those detainees have reportedly been released.

Leahy twice sent letters to Attorney General John Ashcroft on the issues on Oct. 31 and Nov. 9.

"We also have received no cooperation from the Justice Department in our effort to obtain information regarding the 1,000 plus immigrants who have been detained in connection with the terrorism investigation, as reflected in a letter that several Democratic Members transmitted to the attorney general on Oct. 31, 2001," Conyers wrote to Sensenbrenner Wednesday. "We would be remiss in our duties, however, if we did not also oversee the extent to which the Department may be abusing its authority and wrongfully targeting innocent Americans."

[Elkiejg]

Here go the DemoRATS again!! Sorry, I don't believe the illegal aliens have the same rights as American citizens.

[rebdov]

It's widely known that Conyers get a lot of moolah omar from the Muslims in the Detroit area.

[rdb3]

You're right. Illegal aliens don't enjoy constitutional rights.

The point is moot as far as they are concerned. Once they become citizens, then can they enjoy the rights.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Tell old Coke-Bottle Glasses to mumble about this to himself and to stay out of the public eye.

[irish guard]

Since when do non resident/non citizens get rights under our constitution?

[pubmom]

They're not citizens, case closed.

[dawn53]

Let the Dems scream about this, in fact, let them scream and make fools of themselves in hearings shown on TV. Let them argue for the rights of terrorists to "OJ" type defense and sensational trial.

Most Americans see the issue clearly, illegal aliens don't have Constitutional rights.

[BobWNY]

It is not they are illegal aliens, but instead they are saboteurs who have declared warn on the US and do not wear a uniform. Beacuse of this, if caught they are military prisoners of the war they declared on the US and should be treated as such. In the case of out of uniform soldiers, they are hung as spies.

[joeyman]

You're right. Illegal aliens don't enjoy constitutional rights. The point is moot as far as they are concerned. Once they become citizens, then can they enjoy the rights.

After the misappropriately named Patriot Legislation, apparently even Americans don't have these rights. Read the Constitution - especially the 4th Ammendment and tell me the govt hasn't gutted it.

[SJackson]

Go ahead and have the hearings. From a purely political perspective, I don't think carping about the rights of terrorists is going to help the Democrats much.

[rdb3]

Encroachment on our civil liberties definitely concerns me.

But this is not over.

[JPJones]

Where the haell was conyers when Elian was arrested,detained and deported?

[spycatcher]

You just linked to the demoRATS parody of Drudge!

[Marobe]

Im surprised it was a Dem doing the hollering. Terrorists have no Constitutional rights, period. What is of concern here though is the blanket seizure of anyone and not being allowed due process ...even POW's ! Today they took the Christians and I didn't care cause ... Both the holding of prisoners in an undocumented fashion,and the creation of an illegal Military tribunal are methods designed to lull us into submission. Infringements passed today will never be repealed in four years or eight years or ever !

[Capt_Hank]

John Conyers is a poor excuse for a representative. I'm surprised that Maxine Waters didn't jump in with him. I hope the people from Detroit pay close attention to his actions.

[mercy]

For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the battle was lost. For want of the battle the war was lost. For want of the war the Kingdom was lost.

Thankyou jumpin jim jeffords.

[BibChr]

Conyers? Sanity hearings, maybe. Competency hearings, certainly.

[usual suspect]

Conyers also wears that little colorful knit muslim hat

[leadpencil1]

F him.....

[Keith]

my dad used to have a stamp for requests like this...it said, "BULL$HIT DISAPPROVED".