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AP: Feds to Offer $200 Million in Security to City Hosting 9/11 Terror Trials

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Trials
Posted on Sat Jan 30, 2010 at 06:40:31 PM EST
Tags: 9-11 trials (all tags)
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The AP reports that on Monday, President Obama will release a budget request that includes $200 million in security for the city that ends up hosting the 9/11 trials. While no official announcement has been made, it appears Manhattan has been scrapped.

The other day I set out the applicable constitutional and statutory provisions on venue. Most likely, the Government will pick a city in which an overt act in furtherance of the 9/11 conspiracy was committed. Here's a partial list: [More...]

From the military charge sheet against the five 9/11 defendants the Government will seek to try together: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin 'Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hasawi:

  • San Diego, CA
  • Newark NJ
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Decatur, GA
  • Venice, FL
  • Sarasota, FL
  • Miami, FL
  • Orlando, FL
  • Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • Delray Beach, FL
  • Boynton Beach, FL
  • Batavia, OH
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Washington, DC
  • Laurel, MD
  • Portland, ME
  • Boston, MA
  • Dulles, VA
  • Arlington, VA
  • Shanksville, Somerset County, PA

Since most of the witnesses at trial will be from the East coast, I'd rule out California and Arizona.

Boston successfully prosecuted 'shoe-bomber" Richard Reid, but he wasn't huge news and while the city has 6.5 million residents, it practically shuttered downtown during the 2004 Democratic convention. I don't think layout- wise it would be a good choice.

The Pentagon plane that went down predominantly affected those living in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. I think it would be too hard to pick an impartial jury in D.C., since it only has 600,000 residents, but the Eastern District of Virginia has hosted many terrorism trials, including that of Zacarias Moussaoui. Its also experienced in housing prisoners in terror cases.

Newark, NJ might be convenient for the trial participants -- it's close to New York and has 8 million residents, enough to pick a jury from.

Miami should seriously be considered. The 9/11 hijackers received flight training in South Florida and many wire transfers were sent to Florida bank accounts. Since non