Reid Enables 9/11 Mastermind To Be Brought To New York City

(National Republican Senatorial Committee) – Just over one week after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) voted against a critical measure that would have barred captured terrorists from being brought onto American soil, Reid’s allies in the Obama Administration announced this morning that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, will be brought to New York City and tried in a civilian court just steps away from Ground Zero.

This incredible announcement comes despite the fact that tens of millions of taxpayer dollars have reportedly been spent already on building a military commissions courtroom at Guantánamo Bay – a courtroom that has sat empty as Reid and fellow Democrats have come under intense political pressure from interest groups on the far left, such as MoveOn.org, to give captured terrorists more rights.

Last week, Reid voted to block an amendment proposed by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that would have barred the prosecution of these terrorists in federal civilian courts and instead ensured they were tried by military commissions. Notably, the Graham amendment was supported by almost 150 family members of victims of the September 11 attacks, who penned a joint letter to members of the Senate.

“Those who think elections don’t matter will have an important wake-up call when Khalid Shaikh Mohammed walks into the very American city where he helped slaughter thousands of innocent Americans and they shouldn’t forget that Harry Reid helped roll out the welcome mat,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh.

“Senator Reid had the opportunity to stop this but he put the wishes of MoveOn.org ahead of the family members of Americans killed on 9/11,” Walsh continued. “As he prepares to fight for his re-election in 2010, there’s no doubt that Harry Reid’s misguided vote to allow Khalid Shaikh Mohammed to be brought onto our shores will be a critical issue before voters next year.”

Today’s announcement by the Obama Administration comes just ten days after Administration officials confirmed that captured terrorists currently held at Guantánamo Bay will also be receiving the H1N1 vaccine despite a limited supply for the American population.