King urges Obama to strip Holder of authority on trials
By Eric ZimmermannThe Hill
April 14, 2010
The ranking member of the House Homeland Security urged President Obama today to strip Attorney General Eric Holder of his authority to decide venues for the trials of suspected terrorists.
Holder testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee today that trials in New York City are not "off the table" despite mounting opposition in Congress.
King said that the administration should rule out the Big Apple once and for all.
“The President should assert his authority, show leadership, and make the final decision that these trials will not be held in New York City," King said in a statement. "The President should not let Attorney General Holder use his leftwing ideology to steamroll him and cause potential damage to millions of New Yorkers. These terrorists should be tried in a military commission, outside New York City."
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also urged the administration tody to drop consideration of NYC.
"We know the administration is not going to hold the trial in New York," Schumer said in a statement. "They should just say it already."