9/11 TRIAL COMING TO NYC

On Friday, Attorney General Eric Holder held a press conference and announced that five of the masterminds behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks that leveled the twin towers of the World Trade Center, will be brought to New York City to stand trial.

Almost immediately, critics attacked the idea of trying the suspected terrorists on U.S. soil as ludicrous.  Opponents say that proceeding with a trial through the American court system offers too much protection to the men charged with killing more than 3000 U.S citizens.  They also point out that in order for the trial to be fair, national security would be jeopardized with certain classified information needing to be disclosed during the trial.  Then there’s the question of safety for the city and citizens of New York, who could be subjected to potential attacks as well as a virtual military zone the government would need to offer protection.

According to CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, sending the suspects through the U.S. court system in New York could result in a mistrial.  He noted defense lawyers will almost certainly point out how impossible it will be to find a neutral and fair jury at a trial being held merely blocks away from Ground Zero.  And most interestingly, Toobin asked what will happen if for some reason the suspects are found not guilty?  In the American court system, whenever someone is acquitted they are allowed to leave the courtroom freely at the end of the trial.  So what are the consequences of allowing these men to simply walk down the steps of the courthouse and freely disappear onto a New York City street following an acquittal?

But some family members of the 9/11 victims as well as New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly say it is only fitting for the men who waged the greatest terrorist act on U.S soil in history, to be forced to return to the scene of the crime to receive their justice.  With the backing of President Obama and former President George W. Bush (who was president at the time of the 9/11 attacks), Attorney General Eric Holder will seek the death penalty for all the men and says he is confident justice will prevail.

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