Press Release - Nelson Casts Key Vote Against Terrorism

Press Release - Nelson Casts Key Vote Against Terrorism

Senate Passes Military Commissions Act 65-34

Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson today voted to preserve a provision in proposed military commissions legislation (S. 3930) that prevents alleged enemy combatants to file a writ of habeas corpus.

"This process has been stalled since the Supreme Court's Hamden ruling," said Nelson. "Restricting the habeas corpus petitions will enable the Department of Justice to move forward in the judicial process of charging these individuals connected to terror."

Senator Specter introduced an amendment to strike language contained in the compromise forged between Senators McCain-Warner-Graham and the White House that eliminates courts of jurisdiction from hearing pending habeas claims, or other actions, brought by unlawful combatants relating to their detention, treatment, or condition of confinement. Senator Nelson voted against the amendment in order to preserve the compromise language. The amendment failed 48-51.

The overall aim of the Military Commissions Act is to establish military commissions to prosecute terrorism suspects while spelling out the impermissible violations in the treatment of detainees. Senator Nelson voted for the bill, which passed 65-34.

"This compromise goes a long way in protecting the principles of the Geneva Conventions and establishes a standard of treatment that the world will follow," said Nelson.

http://bennelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=264044&&