LibertyEagle
09-19-2007, 01:52 PM
Former Congressman Barr Blasts Senate For Refusing To Restore Habeas Corpus
Calls on Leadership to Continue Efforts to Restore Constitutional Right
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 3:30 PM
Atlanta, GA – Former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr today issued a statement blasting Republicans in the Senate for refusing to consider a measure restoring the right of habeas corpus to those persons detained by the U.S. government who have been labeled “enemy combatants” by the President. Barr said, “The vote in the Senate today derailing an effort to restore the right of habeas corpus makes clear that a near-majority of Senators, primarily Republicans, either do not understand the principle of habeas corpus, or still are gripped by the irrational fear that pervades our country since 9-11.”
The former Congressman continued, “The Senate is on record once again supporting the unbridled power of a President to declare any individual he wants as an ‘enemy combatant’ and then detain that person indefinitely without even being able to go before a judge to have the government show it has at least some rational basis to hold the person in prison.”
Barr labeled this “abdication” of power to a President by the Congress “unfortunate” and “extremely dangerous.” He said it was “a move the Republicans in the Senate would come to regret, if for no other reason than because future presidents, including those of the Democratic Party who the Republicans would not likely support, would be able to exercise this same awesome power.”
Barr chided those Republican Senators who spoke against the habeas restoration legislation based on the argument it would allow alleged terrorists to flood our courts with lawsuits. Barr, a former federal prosecutor, noted that “habeas corpus proceedings are not trials on the merits, but are simply basic, non-jury proceedings in which a federal judge reviews basic evidence presented by the government showing it has a valid reason to detain a person.” For Republican lawmakers to turn their back on such a time-honored and fundamentally American concept as habeas corpus, indicated, Barr said, “just how far our nation has traveled since 9-11 from ensuring that our civil liberties remain protected by our Constitution.”
Mr. Barr noted also, “This sense of fear also appears to be the basis for voting -- as the Congress did just last month -- to give the Administration the power surreptitiously surveil virtually any international phone call or e-mail by American citizens to anybody in a foreign country.”
For further information please visit http://www.bobbarr.org or contact Derek Barr at 770-836-1776.
Barr, a former Member of Congress (1995-2003), also served previously as a US Attorney and with the Central Intelligence Agency. He is a lawyer and currently works with national organizations on issues related to privacy and national security.
Calls on Leadership to Continue Efforts to Restore Constitutional Right
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 3:30 PM
Atlanta, GA – Former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr today issued a statement blasting Republicans in the Senate for refusing to consider a measure restoring the right of habeas corpus to those persons detained by the U.S. government who have been labeled “enemy combatants” by the President. Barr said, “The vote in the Senate today derailing an effort to restore the right of habeas corpus makes clear that a near-majority of Senators, primarily Republicans, either do not understand the principle of habeas corpus, or still are gripped by the irrational fear that pervades our country since 9-11.”
The former Congressman continued, “The Senate is on record once again supporting the unbridled power of a President to declare any individual he wants as an ‘enemy combatant’ and then detain that person indefinitely without even being able to go before a judge to have the government show it has at least some rational basis to hold the person in prison.”
Barr labeled this “abdication” of power to a President by the Congress “unfortunate” and “extremely dangerous.” He said it was “a move the Republicans in the Senate would come to regret, if for no other reason than because future presidents, including those of the Democratic Party who the Republicans would not likely support, would be able to exercise this same awesome power.”
Barr chided those Republican Senators who spoke against the habeas restoration legislation based on the argument it would allow alleged terrorists to flood our courts with lawsuits. Barr, a former federal prosecutor, noted that “habeas corpus proceedings are not trials on the merits, but are simply basic, non-jury proceedings in which a federal judge reviews basic evidence presented by the government showing it has a valid reason to detain a person.” For Republican lawmakers to turn their back on such a time-honored and fundamentally American concept as habeas corpus, indicated, Barr said, “just how far our nation has traveled since 9-11 from ensuring that our civil liberties remain protected by our Constitution.”
Mr. Barr noted also, “This sense of fear also appears to be the basis for voting -- as the Congress did just last month -- to give the Administration the power surreptitiously surveil virtually any international phone call or e-mail by American citizens to anybody in a foreign country.”
For further information please visit http://www.bobbarr.org or contact Derek Barr at 770-836-1776.
Barr, a former Member of Congress (1995-2003), also served previously as a US Attorney and with the Central Intelligence Agency. He is a lawyer and currently works with national organizations on issues related to privacy and national security.