NationStates Jolt Archive


U.S. District Court: US Gov't hiding evidence in Gitmo case

The Cat-Tribe
07-01-2009, 05:18
The Bush Administration continues to drag its feed and play hide-the-ball regarding habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. I know you are shocked! Shocked!

Judge: Government hiding evidence in Gitmo case (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gUxng-zkl2uhqdCATFQyY9_8QV3QD95HSOA00)
By LARA JAKES – 6 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday accused the Bush administration of hiding evidence in the case of a Yemen man who has been held as a terror suspect at Guantanamo Bay for six years.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said he was forced to delay ruling on whether to free Aymen Saeed Batarfi because as many as 10 documents of classified information were withheld from the court until recently.

"I think it's unfair, I think it's disingenuous," Sullivan said during an hourlong hearing.

He added: "This government, especially, hides the ball when it suits this government's purpose."

Sullivan also presided over last fall's trial of former Sen. Ted Stevens, when prosecutors broke rules requiring them to turn over evidence favorable to the Alaska Republican.

In Tuesday's case, Justice Department attorneys admitted that at least some of the recently revealed documents dated back to September.

But Justice attorney John Henebery said the government did not believe the information had to be turned over immediately.

The information in the documents — compiled by the Defense Department and other government intelligence agencies — is unknown because it is classified. Much of the evidence in the cases of hundreds of detainees who are seeking release in U.S. District Court in Washington will never be made public.

Batarfi's attorneys say the 38-year-old Yemen doctor was first held by U.S. forces at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in late 2001 and transferred to the U.S. naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in April 2002.

William J. Murphy, a Baltimore lawyer representing Batarfi, said the Yemeni was on a humanitarian aid mission on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border when he was injured and swept up by Northern Alliance forces, who turned him over to the U.S. Batarfi's lawyers maintain he was not assisting al-Qaida.

However, Justice Department attorney Chris Hardee said Batarfi was at one of al-Qaida's major battles.

"He wasn't just a charity worker," Hardee told Sullivan.

At least some of the evidence against Batarfi is hearsay, Sullivan said, although he added: "There's some pretty powerful allegations."

Both sides initially had wanted Sullivan to rule on whether to free Batarfi. But the judge said a review of the new documents would delay a decision until after a March 9 hearing.

(emphasis added)
Knights of Liberty
07-01-2009, 05:20
"I think it's unfair, I think it's disingenuous," Sullivan said during an hourlong hearing.

Thats the understatement of the new year.
Gauntleted Fist
07-01-2009, 05:25
Thats the understatement of the new year.It's only been six days! :D
Muravyets
07-01-2009, 05:35
You know, I'm seeing a teensy little trend towards finally calling these scumbags out on their scumbaggery. This is just the latest and shiny-newest rumble from judges and attorneys involved in this mess. Now Leon Panetta's been tapped for CIA chief, his principle qualification -- aside from his managerial skills and former WH chief-of-staff experience -- being his clear, uncompromising, and assertive opposition to all things even remotely torture-like. House cleaning time coming up? It will be spring soon. A good time for it.
Barringtonia
07-01-2009, 05:38
My favourite quote has been Dick Cheney's in regard to emails that, by law, are meant to go into the public record whereby he says that it's up to him to decide what is personal and what is public.

Entire days of emails have disappeared, like 3-4 days in a row so theoretically there's a dilemma for him.

Either he's blatantly looking to hide public record emails or he's saying that he often goes days doing bugger all at office but sending personal correspondence.

Frankly, I think there's grounds for a warrant to gather evidence from the White House, a good old FBI raid.
Minoriteeburg
07-01-2009, 05:39
It's only been six days! :D

already the entire year has been summed up and were only 6 days in....go figure. :rolleyes:
Gauntleted Fist
07-01-2009, 05:41
already the entire year has been summed up and were only 6 days in....go figure. :rolleyes:2009, the year of the understatement!
Minoriteeburg
07-01-2009, 05:43
2009, the year of the understatement!

Where is the nearest american flag? I need to salute it.
Gauntleted Fist
07-01-2009, 05:46
Where is the nearest american flag? I need to salute it.Court house? :p
Muravyets
07-01-2009, 05:49
Where is the nearest american flag? I need to salute it.
Here ya go:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_john_1.jpg
Minoriteeburg
07-01-2009, 05:52
Here ya go:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_john_1.jpg

somewhere right now a bald eagle is shedding a tear.
Wilgrove
07-01-2009, 05:53
Here ya go:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_john_1.jpg

That's not a true American flag, it only has 48 stars! :p
Gauntleted Fist
07-01-2009, 05:55
That's not a true American flag, it only has 48 stars! :pIt's a retired flag. Doesn't mean it isn't a real American flag. :p
Muravyets
07-01-2009, 05:55
That's not a true American flag, it only has 48 stars! :p
It's vintage.
Minoriteeburg
07-01-2009, 06:00
It's vintage.

after a while the stars sometimes fall off.
Muravyets
07-01-2009, 06:01
after a while the stars sometimes fall off.
Um...everybody here knows that, once upon a time, there were only 48 states, right?

Just checking.

Um...you all do recognize that image, too, right? On that one, I'm just hoping.
Minoriteeburg
07-01-2009, 06:03
Um...everybody here knows that, once upon a time, there were only 48 states, right?


I thought it went from the original colonies to the 50 states...:p


Just checking.

Um...you all do recognize that image, too, right? On that one, I'm just hoping.

Its a famous painting right? I forget the artist.
Kyronea
07-01-2009, 07:10
Um...everybody here knows that, once upon a time, there were only 48 states, right?

Just checking.

Um...you all do recognize that image, too, right? On that one, I'm just hoping.

I don't, but that's because I have this very odd tendency to not be exposed to a lot of things.

Although it DOES look familiar...

In any event, I'm going to be cackling with glee once the Obama administration--ooh, that's a fun phrase--takes over and we see more calling out of the former Bush administration--another fun phrase.

I will also be saddened when Obama pre-emptively pardons Bush and Cheney...
Muravyets
07-01-2009, 07:20
I thought it went from the original colonies to the 50 states...:p



Its a famous painting right? I forget the artist.
Okay, you and Kyronea are good enough with the vague familiarity.

It's one of Jasper Johns' flag paintings, fyi.
Kyronea
07-01-2009, 07:32
Okay, you and Kyronea are good enough with the vague familiarity.

It's one of Jasper Johns' flag paintings, fyi.

Oh...no wonder the style was familiar.

It's a beautiful painting.
Gravlen
09-01-2009, 00:36
Only 12 days left... Poor Obama. There's a lot of messes to clean up!