WASHINGTON, DC – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today applauded passage of a House GOP proposal during consideration of the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Act (H.R. 2847).  The proposal, offered as a motion to recommit by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), would prohibit any funds under the act being used to provide the rights Americans enjoy under Miranda v. Arizona by the Department of Justice, to terrorist detainees in the custody of U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan:

        “Terrorists who want to kill Americans and destroy our way of life should not be granted the same rights as American citizens.  I am pleased House Democrats joined Republicans to send a clear message to the Obama Administration that terrorists should not be given Miranda rights and an opportunity to take advantage of the U.S. legal system.  As this legislation is finalized, House Democrats who supported this proposal must ensure it remains a part of the bill ultimately sent to the President’s desk.  Let’s be clear: terrorism is not a law enforcement issue.  That is a pre-9/11 mentality that helped pave the way for deadliest terrorist strike in American history, and granting terrorists Miranda rights would be a significant blow to our efforts to defeat the terrorist threat.”

        NOTE: News reports recently noted that the Federal Bureau of Investigation agents have read terrorist suspects their Miranda rights overseas, at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and other places.

#####

More Information: GOPLeader.gov | RSS | YouTube | Twitter | Flickr | Podcast