‘If the administration isn’t willing to share information on these terrorists voluntarily, except with those in Europe, then Congress will have to require it through the kind of legislation my amendment represents’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the McConnell Amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations Act:
“I’d like to speak again about my amendment relating to the Detainee Task Force that the administration established as part of its Executive Order on Guantanamo. The purpose of this task force is to review the records of detainees and to determine whether or not they should be released.
“My amendment calls on the administration to share its findings with Congress in a classified report that would indicate the likelihood of detainees returning to terrorism. It would also report on any effort Al Qaeda may be making to recruit detainees once they’re released from U.S. custody.
“This last requirement is particularly important given that many of the remaining 240 detainees at Guantanamo are from Yemen, which has no rehabilitation program to speak of, and from Saudi Arabia, which has a rehab program, but which hasn’t been entirely successful at keeping detainees from rejoining the fight even after rehabilitation.
“My amendment would require the administration to report to Congress before releasing any of the detainees at Guantanamo and to certify that any of the detainees it wishes to release prior to submitting this report pose no risk to American military personnel around the world.
“This is a simple amendment that reflects the concerns that Americans have about the danger of releasing terrorists either here or in their own home countries, where they could then return to the fight. Until now, the administration has offered vague assurances that it will not do anything to make Americans less safe. This amendment says that Americans expect more than a vague assurance — and it would require it.
“Some have argued that such a reporting requirement would reveal classified information to the public. This isn’t true. It would simply require the administration to share this information with a limited, specific group in Congress with the relevant oversight responsibilities and which already has access to the most classified information available.
“Some have said a reporting requirement isn’t necessary. This is also false. First, because we know the recidivism rate of detainees who weren’t even considered a serious threat is about 12%. It’s perfectly clear that we need to know whether any of the current detainees who we may release in the future pose a similar or even a greater threat of returning to the battle. Moreover, a reporting requirement has proven to be necessary by the simple fact that the Administration has been so reluctant to share any details whatsoever about its plans for the inmates at Guantanamo.
“Senator Sessions, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, has made at least two formal requests for information from Attorney General Holder — first in a letter on April 2, and second, in a letter dated May 4. To this day, Senator Sessions hasn’t received a reply to either one.
“If the administration isn’t willing to share information on these terrorists voluntarily, except with those in Europe, then Congress will have to require it through the kind of legislation my amendment represents.
“Some have argued that this reporting requirement would hinder prosecutions by making evidence public. This is also false for reasons I’ve already enumerated: it would only require a summary of the administration’s findings, and the summary would only have to be shared with a small group of members in a classified setting. This has never disrupted prosecutions in the past. It will not disrupt prosecutions in the future.
“Some have further suggested that a reporting requirement would be onerous. This is also false. The administration says that it’s already begun its review of detainees. My amendment simply asks that it share with us the details of that review. Subsequent reports would be made on a quarterly basis, which is hardly onerous, particularly given the gravity of the issue.
“Americans want the assurance that the President’s arbitrary deadline to close Guantanamo by next January will pose no threat to themselves or their families. Just today, the FBI Director testified before the House Judiciary Committee about his concerns that detainees who are currently held at Guantanamo could present a serious risk not only upon transfer to their home countries, but even upon transfer to maximum security prisons in the U.S.
“He cited concerns with their ability to radicalize others and to conduct terrorist operations. As to the latter, he cited gang leaders who’ve been able to run their gangs from prison as proof that terrorists could do the same. The Director of the FBI has access to classified information. We recognize him as one of our nation’s top law enforcement officials. He’s someone who should be taken seriously.
“Americans don’t want terrorists plotting attacks against us anywhere. They certainly don’t want them doing so in our backyards, or down the road in the local prison. And Americans don’t want terrorists that we release attacking our servicemen and women overseas. That’s why the administration should be required to let us know whether any terrorists released or transferred from Guantanamo pose a risk to our military service members overseas. My amendment would help ensure this. I urge my colleagues to support it with their votes.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding the McConnell Amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations Act:
“I’d like to speak again about my amendment relating to the Detainee Task Force that the administration established as part of its Executive Order on Guantanamo. The purpose of this task force is to review the records of detainees and to determine whether or not they should be released.
“My amendment calls on the administration to share its findings with Congress in a classified report that would indicate the likelihood of detainees returning to terrorism. It would also report on any effort Al Qaeda may be making to recruit detainees once they’re released from U.S. custody.
“This last requirement is particularly important given that many of the remaining 240 detainees at Guantanamo are from Yemen, which has no rehabilitation program to speak of, and from Saudi Arabia, which has a rehab program, but which hasn’t been entirely successful at keeping detainees from rejoining the fight even after rehabilitation.
“My amendment would require the administration to report to Congress before releasing any of the detainees at Guantanamo and to certify that any of the detainees it wishes to release prior to submitting this report pose no risk to American military personnel around the world.
“This is a simple amendment that reflects the concerns that Americans have about the danger of releasing terrorists either here or in their own home countries, where they could then return to the fight. Until now, the administration has offered vague assurances that it will not do anything to make Americans less safe. This amendment says that Americans expect more than a vague assurance — and it would require it.
“Some have argued that such a reporting requirement would reveal classified information to the public. This isn’t true. It would simply require the administration to share this information with a limited, specific group in Congress with the relevant oversight responsibilities and which already has access to the most classified information available.
“Some have said a reporting requirement isn’t necessary. This is also false. First, because we know the recidivism rate of detainees who weren’t even considered a serious threat is about 12%. It’s perfectly clear that we need to know whether any of the current detainees who we may release in the future pose a similar or even a greater threat of returning to the battle. Moreover, a reporting requirement has proven to be necessary by the simple fact that the Administration has been so reluctant to share any details whatsoever about its plans for the inmates at Guantanamo.
“Senator Sessions, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, has made at least two formal requests for information from Attorney General Holder — first in a letter on April 2, and second, in a letter dated May 4. To this day, Senator Sessions hasn’t received a reply to either one.
“If the administration isn’t willing to share information on these terrorists voluntarily, except with those in Europe, then Congress will have to require it through the kind of legislation my amendment represents.
“Some have argued that this reporting requirement would hinder prosecutions by making evidence public. This is also false for reasons I’ve already enumerated: it would only require a summary of the administration’s findings, and the summary would only have to be shared with a small group of members in a classified setting. This has never disrupted prosecutions in the past. It will not disrupt prosecutions in the future.
“Some have further suggested that a reporting requirement would be onerous. This is also false. The administration says that it’s already begun its review of detainees. My amendment simply asks that it share with us the details of that review. Subsequent reports would be made on a quarterly basis, which is hardly onerous, particularly given the gravity of the issue.
“Americans want the assurance that the President’s arbitrary deadline to close Guantanamo by next January will pose no threat to themselves or their families. Just today, the FBI Director testified before the House Judiciary Committee about his concerns that detainees who are currently held at Guantanamo could present a serious risk not only upon transfer to their home countries, but even upon transfer to maximum security prisons in the U.S.
“He cited concerns with their ability to radicalize others and to conduct terrorist operations. As to the latter, he cited gang leaders who’ve been able to run their gangs from prison as proof that terrorists could do the same. The Director of the FBI has access to classified information. We recognize him as one of our nation’s top law enforcement officials. He’s someone who should be taken seriously.
“Americans don’t want terrorists plotting attacks against us anywhere. They certainly don’t want them doing so in our backyards, or down the road in the local prison. And Americans don’t want terrorists that we release attacking our servicemen and women overseas. That’s why the administration should be required to let us know whether any terrorists released or transferred from Guantanamo pose a risk to our military service members overseas. My amendment would help ensure this. I urge my colleagues to support it with their votes.”
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