Terror Trials: Not in Downtown NY, But Where?

An Obama official confirmed rumors yesterday that the administration is dropping Manhattan as the trial site for alleged terrorists who helped plan 9/11. The wind-down began earlier this week when Mayor Bloomberg started whining about the cost of the trials, while simultaneously announcing massive cuts to the city’s budget including to its jobs sector. The trials—which he once hailed as a powerful symbol for New Yorkers—would cost $1 billion, more than the cash-strapped city can afford. Soon, community boards, downtown residents and Gov. Paterson all withdrew support, and now Obama lackeys say he’s “considering other options.”

But what are these other options exactly? And could the terror circus still be coming to a town near us? Well, lower Manhattan is out because of security costs and the shut-down the trials would force on Wall Street, reported the NY Times. However, finding a new venue may be a bit tricky, since Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and his accomplices can’t be tried any old place. "Wherever conspiratorial activity occurred, you can charge a conspiracy," attorney Joshua Dratel told the NY Daily News.

Technically, the caveat limits trial locations to the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of Virginia or the Western District of Pennsylvania, though Florida—where some of the accused plotters learned to fly—could also be on the table, as could Boston and Newark where the men boarded their tower-bound planes. So, though the expensive, potentially drawn-out trials won’t be coming to Foley Square—the chances of New York holding them are still fair to good. Governor’s Island has been floated, as have White Plains and Newburgh, upstate. They could even go to the Bronx.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Sabrina Jaszi in News on January 30, 2010 9:49 AM

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Gotcha

Cowardice: Right! When the Bush Administration was about to kill the Anthrax Vaccine Program in August of 2001, we get the Anthrax Letters courtesy of Dr. Ivins at USAMRIID, whose billion dollar projects could have been killed for being totally ineffective in demonstrating the efficacy and safety of the Human Anthrax Vaccine, known as BioThrax(tm). Instead, the Bush reaction was to endorse the vaccine with billions of dollars of further orders, so that by 2008, the GAO reported that it was costing over $100 million a year to dispose of expired human anthrax vaccine because it is an EPA hazardous material. Cowardice is failing to cancel this misguided program to protect our military with mandatory injections and the adverse effects of the Human Anthrax Vaccine, including severe auto-immune disease and malignant tumors. Support H.R. 1478, the Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez Memorial Bill to restore the rights of military men and women to sue for medical malpractice received while in active service. He died from skin cancer triggered by the human anthrax vaccine. This Bill is stuck in committee and needs to be on President Obama's desk yesterday. Without this right, there will be no redress for the wrongs committed by the US government against our servicemen in the name of "Bio-Security." For more information, see Scott Miller's documentary film "A CALL TO ARMS 2009 EDITION."

Spirit of 76

How about the former Naval Station New York on Staten Island? Hasn't been used since the government came to its senses and stopped spending hundreds of millions of dollars building an all-new naval base when the Base Closing Commission was simultaneously closing facilities all over the country to save money. It's unused, it's secure, and unlike Governor's Island, it's neither historic nor outdated.

NannyState

Why not Central Islip? Why shouldn't LI be made to suffer?

jchez

There's a really good ultra-secure Army base all set up for the trials. It's calle Guantanamo.

Helen Thomas knows the score

this is the guy they accuse planning 9/11. of attacking our city. of killing our people.

now that we can put him on trial using our legal system which is supposedly so great compared to the rest of the barbaric world, everyone is having 2nd thoughts. now everyone is afraid...of what exactly? now we want to give some secret military style sentence away from the public. Just kill him and get it over with..USA. USA.

please.....the people in this country have become so scared they don't think anymore.

They've been lied to about the reasons we were attacked on 911. supporting the Palestinian occupation

they've been lied about the threat from Alqueda. answer the biggest threat, the 19 hijackers were dead by 10 o'clock on 9/11. how many members does alqueda have? 50 or 100 people. a 1K maybe if you want to be silly. america is a country of 300 million. think about that.

but a lot of people love to pump up the threat. there is a lot of money to be made fighting terrorism. there is a lot of cover to be used if you want to go to war in Lebanon or Gaza or Iraq or Iran.

USA.USA. yeah, right, Smarten up people.

ProudLiberal1947

So the Stalwarts of Cowardice think they have won, I am so afraid , what about the innocent, oh the world is coming to a end. The very COWARDS who LIED us into the WAR and the VERY COWARDS who never served or went to war are the same COWARDS shaking in their boots and scared to death of their shadows.

Being a New Yorker a 21 year retired combat veteran I am a shamed at the publicity these mealy mouth jello for intestinal fortitude morons are getting.

I say bring it on I am a American and I will fight so hold the trails where they were scheduled at let the weak kneed COWRDS of the right cower in the corners.

Look New Yorkers if their is any type of attack LOOK to your Right Wing Anti Government base, next look to your Financial and Socialist Corporations and your Military Industrial Complex, these Cowards have the most to loose with the trail are at presently.

Next any attacks look to the size and damage smoke and bang and small later to be found none lethal are your Socialist Corporations and Financial markets the bigger scare that can not be stacked will be your Military Industrial Complex (remember Anthrax after 9/11 that was Military Grade). This is just a outline and these people are playing for big stakes, your participation is minor the bigger picture is to keep you second guessing and ALWAY afraid it is the trade mark of the right.

So I say show the World the REAL AMERICA is back not the Wimpy I am afraid of my shadow Right Wing Fear and Hate Mongering of the last Administration.

New York start following the MONEY and the Social agenda and timing of the move the trail agenda.

ItchyGoiter

Hey, you're right. I never thought about it that way.

art

since when did listening to new facts as they arise and making a new valued judgment because of those facts, become BLINKING? the true cost of the entire trial was just figured out, which is the real reason behind this change. thank the goddess we have people in power in DC that actually listen to facts and make reasoned choices thereafter. we could have used a bit more 'blinking' from Bush instead of going full-speed ahead, stay-the-course his entire 8 years.

jlocke

Ohhhkay. Congrats Khalid, you got the better of us.

verbal

Vote Schumer out for supporting this and then acting like he saved the day; and if Kelly runs for mayor ditch him too. Bloomberg is the biggest phony of all of them on this.