[Infowarrior] - WH moving 9/11 trials from NYC?

[Richard Forno]

White House orders Justice Department to look for other places to hold  
9/11 terror trial
BY Kenneth R. Bazinet, Adam Lisberg and Samuel Goldsmith
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Originally Published:Thursday, January 28th 2010, 8:04 PM
Updated: Thursday, January 28th 2010, 9:14 PM


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/01/28/2010-01-28_white_house_orders_justice_department_to_look_for_other_places_to_hold_911_terro.html

The White House ordered the Justice Department on Thursday night to  
consider other places to try the 9/11 terror suspects after a wave of  
opposition to holding the trial in lower Manhattan.

The dramatic turnabout came hours after Mayor Bloomberg said he would  
"prefer that they did it elsewhere" and then spoke to Attorney General  
Eric Holder.

"It would be an inconvenience at the least, and probably that's too  
mild a word for people that live in the neighborhood and businesses in  
the neighborhood," Bloomberg told reporters.

"There are places that would be less expensive for the taxpayers and  
less disruptive for New York City."

State and city leaders have increasingly railed against a plan to try  
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in Manhattan federal court since Holder  
proposed it last month.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said he was "pleased" by the decision and said the  
White House also told him Thursday night it backs a possible move.

Earlier in the day, Schumer spoke "with high-level members of the  
administration and urged them to find alternatives," said the  
senator's spokesman, Josh Vlasto.

The order to consider new venues does not change the White House's  
position that Mohammed should be tried in civilian court.

"President Obama is still committed to trying Mohammed and four other  
terrorist detainees in federal court," spokesman Bill Burton said  
yesterday.

"He agrees with the attorney general's opinion that ... he and others  
can be litigated successfully and securely in the United States of  
America, just like others have," Burton said.

Burton referred questions about the location debate to the Justice  
Department. While not commenting publicly, a department official  
disputed the characterization that the White House ordered the  
possible move.


But another insider told The News that Justice officials have been  
caught off guard by the fiery opposition in New York.

"They're in a tizzy at Justice over Bloomberg," a federal law  
enforcement official said. "It's like a half-baked souffle - the plan  
is collapsing."

Julie Menin, the chairwoman of Community Board 1 who helped rally  
opposition to the plan, called the shift "a step in the right  
direction."

"I'm thrilled the White House is reconsidering," Menin said. "The  
trial has to be moved out of New York City."

Meanwhile, a source told The News that Police Commissioner Raymond  
Kelly was the driving force behind the push by Manhattan business  
leaders to change the mayor's mind on the trial.

Kelly made an "extremely powerful" speech to a roomful of 150  
prominent business leaders about how disruptive and costly the trial  
would be for lower Manhattan at an annual police charity event on Jan.  
13, the source said.

"What turned this around was when Ray made a presentation to the  
Police Foundation," the source said. "Everyone went from thinking,  
'Justice will be served' to thinking 'We are screwed.'"

What followed was a barrage of complaints to the mayor from some of  
New York's most powerful tycoons - part of a tide of pressure that led  
Bloomberg to turn against hosting the trial.

Estimates put the cost of a multiyear terror trial in lower Manhattan  
at about $200 million a year. Leaders have suggested other venues for  
the trial, such as the Military Academy at West Point or Stewart Air  
National Guard Base in upstate Newburgh.

The federal government has said they would reimburse the city for the  
costs, most of which cover overtime for increased security, but they  
won't reimburse business owners for lost revenue during the chaos,  
said Steven Spinola, president of the heavyweight business group Real  
Estate Board of New York.

"Is the federal government going to give the city $1 billion plus the  
cost of propping up businesses? I don't think so," Spinola said.

"The mayor clearly has been thinking about this. The tide is turning,"  
He said.

With Kenneth Lovett, James Gordon Meek and Rocco Parascandola