Rooney Bill Would Require Military Tribunals at Guantanamo Bay for Detainees

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-16) today introduced the "Detainee Trials at Gitmo Act," which would require all detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay to be tried by military commissions in the courtroom facility constructed at Guantanamo Bay.

"Military commissions are fair and provide due process for the accused, but they also protect critical intelligence officials and evidence," said Rooney, a former military prosecutor in the JAG Corps and a former constitutional law professor at West Point. "Foreign terrorists should absolutely not receive the same rights and privileges as American citizens do."

Rooney said that the recent trial of Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, who was acquitted on more than 280 counts, including the tops counts of murder and murder and murder conspiracy, highlights the flaws with the Administration's strategy of giving detainees civilian trials. This week, the Administration retreated from its previous position and signaled a willingness to resume military commissions at Guantanamo Bay for detainees.

"The constitutional and legal standards for evidence-gathering and prosecution in a civilian case are simply not adequate for the trial of an enemy combatant," Rooney said. "As a former military prosecutor, I strongly believe that trying detainees in military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay is the best way to hold terrorists accountable, keep them out of the United States, and prevent them from rejoining the fight."

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