Dr. Rand Paul Demands Vote to End Indefinite Detention
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) demanded a vote on his amendment to the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to respect the Bill of Rights and prevent the federal government from indefinitely detaining American citizens without trial.
Currently, Section 1021 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act unconstitutionally declares that the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force allows our Armed Forces to indefinitely detain citizens, legal residents, and foreign nationals who are alleged to have engaged in hostilities against the United States. This means U.S. citizens apprehended within the boundaries of the U.S. could be held indefinitely without trial.
Senator Lindsey Graham objected to Dr. Paul’s motion for unanimous consent on a vote.
“We should be alarmed that there are people trying to prevent a trial by jury in our country,”
Dr. Paul said while responding to Senator Graham. “You short-circuit America - you short-circuit American history - if you get rid of a trial by jury, if you get rid of presumption of innocence,”
he went on to note.
“America needs to know there is one opponent in the Senate who does not believe in the Bill of Rights. When he declares you an enemy combatant, you don’t get the Fifth or Sixth Amendment. That’s what this is about,”
Dr. Paul further stated.
You can watch Dr. Paul’s initial speech
HERE and his response to Senator Graham
HERE.
(Dr. Paul Speaks on the Senate Floor - June 12, 2018)
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