Congressman Joe Sestak (D-Pa7) is fine with having the trials of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his fellow 9/11 plotters held in a federal court in western Pennsylvania if they should be blocked in New York City or Northern Virginia.
“I would accept them anywhere in America, to be brought here, to bebrought to justice, to have the keys thrown away or to have them giventhe death sentence by a jury of our peers,” said Thursday according to the Wall Street Journal.
If you feel that way, Joe, why bother with the trial? Do you understand the concept of the presumption of innocence? Do you realize that a judge is mandated to throw out tainted evidence, an action that could almost guarantee acquittal? Or do you think we should make exceptions for these guys and, if so, how would that not be a far greater mockery of due process and our system of justice than simply putting them before military tribunals in accordance with well-established procedures?
Can you comprehend that these guys aren’t afraid of death — which as noted is not guaranteed so imagine them serving a life sentence in federal prison and being a constant source of inspiration for kidnappings and terrorist acts in attempts to free them — and that they would use these trials as platforms for propaganda and the acquisition of sensitive information which they can funnel to their followers?
I guess not.
To be honest, Joe, I would be far more willing to guarantee a Specter-Toomey senate race this fall than I would KSM’s conviction in a civilian trial much less death.
Which brings us to the race to replace Sestak in the 7th District: Does Bryan Lentz, the presumptive Democratic nominee agree with Sestak about this state being a fine place for a civilian terror trial? If not, is Lentz, who served in a civil affairs unit in Iraq and was a prosecutor with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, willing to explain to the congressman why such a trial is a real bad idea?
Pat Meehan, the former federal prosecutor and Delaware County D.A. who is going to be the GOP nominee for the seat, certainly can.