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Home arrow Voices arrow Blogs arrow Beacon Backroom arrow Ashcroft says civilian courts 'have use and utility' in handling terrorists
Ashcroft says civilian courts 'have use and utility' in handling terrorists Print E-mail
By Jo Mannies, Beacon Political Reporter   
Posted 3:00 pm Fri., 02.19.10

john100ashcroft.jpgOne of Missouri's favorite Republican sons -- former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft -- apparently told reporters today in Washington that civilian trials have a purpose in dealing with some terrorists.

Ashcroft (also a former U.S. senator, governor, state attorney general and auditor) is quoted by The Huffington Post as saying that civilian courts are among "a variety of tools that ought to be available to an administration" in its anti-terrorism efforts. The article continues:

"Asked specifically about holding civilian trials for terrorists, he said such a venue 'has use and utility.'

"When asked how to distinguish whether to use a military tribunal system or criminal courts for terrorist suspects, Ashcroft said: 'It depends on the circumstances.' "

At minimum, Ashcroft's stance is more nuanced than Republican leaders in Congress, including U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., who contend that military tribunals are the way to handle accused terrorists.

Perhaps Ashcroft will expand on the subject next weekend, when he is slated to be the keynote speaker at the state GOP's statewide Lincoln Days festivities in St. Charles.

Meanwhile, Political Fix's Bill Lambrecht offers a detailed account of Ashcroft's speech today at the Conservative Political Action Conference in D.C.

 

 

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