Hunter Statement on Boumediene vs. Bush Decision

Jun 11, 2008
Press Release

Contact: Josh Holly; 202.226.3988 

Hunter Statement on Boumediene vs. Bush Decision 

Washington D.C. – U.S. House Armed Services Committee Ranking Republican Duncan Hunter (R-CA) today joined with the four dissenting Justices to criticize the U.S. Supreme Court’s Boumediene vs. Bush decision. 

“I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court’s deeply divided decision to grant rights under the Constitution to the alien detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, including the masterminds of 9/11,” said Rep. Hunter. 

“I agree with Justice Scalia in questioning the unprecedented decision to afford a constitutional right to habeas corpus on alien enemies detained abroad by our military forces in course of an ongoing war.” 

“This decision will come at a cost.  The Supreme Court just moved us closer to the day when U.S. Marine rifle teams will have to have lawyers read Miranda rights to terrorists captured on the battlefield,” Hunter continued. 

Rep. Hunter highlighted the following consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision, which Justice Scalia included in his dissenting opinion: 

·        Leaving the habeas corpus decision to civilian courts will likely result in the release of classified and sensitive information. 

·        “…The number of the enemy returned to combat will obviously increase.” 

·        “The game of bait-and-switch that today’s opinion plays upon the Nation’s Commander in Chief will likely make the war harder on us.  It will almost certainly cause more Americans to be killed.” 

Hunter concluded, “The Congressionally-designed system to provide justice to Khalid Shaihk Mohammend and the masterminds of 9/11 is working.  I fear that today’s decision will grind the ongoing military commissions to a halt.”   

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