Senator Chris Dodd
just did.
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), an outspoken opponent of the Military Commission
Act of 2006, today introduced legislation which would amend existing law in
order to have an effective process for bringing terrorists to justice. This
is currently not the case under the Military Commission Act, which will be
the subject of endless legal challenges. As important, the bill would also
seek to ensure that U.S. servicemen and women are afforded the maximum protection
of a strong international legal framework guaranteed by respect for such provisions
as the Geneva Conventions and other international standards, and to restore
America’s moral authority as the leader in the world in advancing the
rule of law.“I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting this country
from terrorists,” Sen. Dodd said. “But there is a right way to
do this and a wrong way to do this. It’s clear the people who perpetrated
these horrendous crimes against our country and our people have no moral compass
and deserve to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But in taking
away their legal rights, the rights first codified in our country’s
Constitution, we’re taking away our own moral compass, as well.”
- The Effective Terrorists Prosecution Act:
- Restores Habeas Corpus protections to detainees
- Narrows the definition of unlawful enemy combatant to individuals who
directly participate in hostilities against the United States who are not
lawful combatants- Bars information gained through coercion from being introduced as evidence
in trials- Empowers military judges to exclude hearsay evidence they deem to be unreliable
- Authorizes the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces to review decisions
by the Military commissions- Limits the authority of the President to interpret the meaning and application
of the Geneva Conventions and makes that authority subject to congressional
and judicial oversight- Provides for expedited judicial review of the Military Commissions Act
of 2006 to determine the constitutionally of its provisions.
Covered this on my radio show and promised the link. We won't get to this until January, but I love that this will torture Republicans throughout the holidays thinking about what's waiting for them in January. Well done, Senator Dodd.
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