Rand Paul Wants Vote on Fair Trial for Military Prisoners in U.S., Holds Up Defense Authorization
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), good on you. From The Hill:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is holding up a vote on the Defense Authorization Act until he gets a vote on his amendment affirming the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution and the indefinite detention of Americans.
Paul is seeking an agreement in principle to get a vote on his amendment when the Senate takes up the defense authorization bill that funds and sets the agenda for the U.S. military….
Paul's amendment would give American citizens being held by the military rights to a fair trial with a jury of peers and the right to confront the witnesses against him or her.
"A citizen of the United States who is captured or arrested in the United States and detained by the Armed Forces of the United States pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40) shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense," the amendment states.
[Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid [D-Nev.] said he hoped Republicans resolve the issue so the Senate can proceed to the Defense Authorization Act when it resumes work on Monday, Nov. 26.
Reid whined that, hey, it wasn't Democrats holding up getting this bill rushed through before Thanksgiving break. No, Sen. Reid, no it was not. And shame on you and them.
The senator kindly appeared at a Cato Institute event to discuss and present my book Ron Paul's Revolution: The Man and the Movement He Inspired. Video of that:
