Downtown Residents: Move Terror Trial To White Plains

Lower Manhattan residents who are fearful of the plan to host the trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other accused 9/11 plotters in a Foley Square federal courthouse have urged the city to relocate the legal proceedings to Governor's Island. And if that doesn't work, they've drafted a shortlist of other locations including White Plains, West Point, Stewart Airport, and Orange County.

Community Board 1 chairwoman Julie Menin—who has spoken out about the Manhattan trial's estimated $200 million annual budget, as well as the case's impact on security and local businesses—told the Post she's "asking Attorney General [Eric] Holder to look at these alternatives and determine if they are feasible or not feasible."

According to Times columnist Clyde Haberman, there's nothing more rational than trying the bunch on Governor's island, which was long used as a military prison and once served as the backdrop for a meeting between two high-profile security risks: President Ronald Reagan and Russian Presient Mikhail Gorbachev. The writer notes that the suspects could be held in the circular fortifications called Castle Williams, though that structure would need a serious overhaul.

That said, there "would arguably be poetic justice as well as real justice in putting these suspects on trial where they would have to look every day at our enduring symbol of freedom: the Statue of Liberty." Police Commissioner Ray Kelly initially sounded enthusiastic about the push to move the terror trials to Governor's Island, but he has since backed away from the proposal.

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By Ben Muessig in News on January 26, 2010 2:26 PM

Comments [rss]

poxod

Hold the trials in White Plains. It's a giant parking lot, no one goes there anyway.

verbal

These trials and executions should be held in Gitmo - period.

Obama and Holder don't have a clue as to what they're doing, and they're putting an undue burden on NYC, and exposing the entire city to added risk.

JenChungsBaby

They should have it at White Castle. With extra bacon.

Mr. Shankly

One suitcase please!

Ishtar

*drool*

Jen S

At first I thought these protesters were being overly alarmist, but now their argument is making sense: besides the obvious logistical problems, this is bringing focus (and possibly attempts at retribution? at least the fear of it) to an already traumatized area. Keep it in NY, but out of NYC.

Snoopy

Those in charge of making this decision should have their brains examined first. I can see this trial going on and on and on, and after a guilty verdict is reached these scum ball creeps and their equally scum ball lawyers will appeal because they found the New York City jurors were biased.

I hear there are a lot of cities in the flyover states that can use the publicity that this trial will create.

gothamguy

and after a guilty verdict is reached these scum ball creeps and their equally scum ball lawyers will appeal because ...

... because there is a statutory right to appeal, and it applies to everyone, even the criminals you don't like.

So does the right to counsel, which is guaranteed by the Constitution. So by all means, keep s--ting on defense lawyers. But, if you ever get arrested, I am sure you will defend yourself rather than seek a lawyer to protect your rights to due process and a fair trial.

Qraymond

This is dumb. They should continue to focus on the valid concerns about air quality downtown instead of directing their hysteria towards a far lesser threat.

This is the ultimate example of NIMBY-ism and I do not think it reflects the majority view in Lower Manhattan. It's a great publicity stunt for CB1 though.

thefacts

A trial here would cause lockdown for blocks and blocks at the seat of finance and government in a crowded residential neighborhood.

The people and businesses in that neighborhood suffered enough on and after 9/11, still suffer the effects, and you want to inflict more?!?

Have you no compassion or do you just have an agenda?

They can still be active for air quality and agitate on other matters. Can you walk and chew gum? If so, you should get the point.

thefacts

But since the crime occurred in the Southern District, the trial must be held there. That includes Manhattan and the counties to the north, not the fly-over states.