US Trial - Administration considering moving 9/11 trial from NYC
NAME: US TRIAL 20100129I
TAPE: EF10/0093
IN_TIME: 10:09:30:05
DURATION: 00:02:05:08
SOURCES: AP Television/Agency Pool/ABC News
DATELINE: Various - 29 Jan 2010/ File
RESTRICTIONS: Check shotlist for details
SHOTLIST:
AP Television
New York, NY
FILE - Recent Unknown Date
1. Aerial of downtown New York
Agency Pool
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
FILE - Recent Unknown Date
2. Wide, sign reading "US Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba"
3. Soldier walking through detention centre
4. Detainees walking outside, behind barbed wire fence
ABC News - No access N/America, Internet
New York, NY - 29 January, 2010
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Bloomberg, New York Mayor:
"It would be better to do it elsewheres if they could find a venue. It''s not my job to tell them what kind of a trial. I''m not a legal expert in any case. But if called on, we''ll help them. And I will say I think they''re trying, they understand, and they''re trying to do something. It''s just there are no easy answers."
AP Television
New York, NY
FILE - Recent unknown date
6. Tilt down of Federal courthouse, proposed location for trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others
7. Close up of the address "500 Pearl Street" on the building
AP Television
New York, NY - 29 January, 2010
7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Paterson, New York State Governor:
"We are just elated that our concerns are being considered by the President and the federal government."
AP Television
New York, NY
FILE - Recent Unknown Date
8. Aerial of Ground Zero
9. Construction work at Ground Zero
AP Television
New York, NY - 29 January, 2010
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox Pop: Marie Darline, New Yorker:
"I think it would be a burden to New York City because we already have all these threats that we''re coming across on a daily basis. To add this to it would just be, well yeah, too much of a burden."
AP Television
New York, NY
FILE - Recent Unknown Date
17. Street scene
AP Television
New York, NY - 29 January, 2010
18. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox Pop: Jeff Jacoby, New Yorker:
"We''re not looking for symbolism. We''re looking for justice at this point and justice isn''t really going to be served well, if we''re going to have to suffer financially. It''s no point - they''re going to hurt us twice. They hurt us once and then come back to do it again and then hurt us financially a second time, it''s no good."
AP Television
West Point, NY
FILE - Recent Unknown Date
19. Church steeple
AP Television
West Point, NY - 9 February, 2009
20. Military band playing
AP Television
Stewart Air Force Base, Newburgh, NY - 21 May, 2009
21. Various, cargo planes
STORYLINE:
The Obama administration is considering relocating the planned trial in New York of the man accused of masterminding the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September, 2001, it emerged on Friday.
There has been growing opposition in the city, with some residents saying they suffered enough at the time and others pointing to the cost of the trial and the affect on the city economy.
Two administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said on Friday that the US Justice department is drawing up plans for possible alternative locations to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged accomplices in case Congress or local officials prevent the trial from being held in Manhattan.
Attorney General Eric Holder announced last year that the trial would be held in Manhattan federal court, generating stiff opposition in Congress and in New York.
Word that the Administration is considering a backup plan for the high-profile trial comes after President Barack Obama and Holder spent weeks on the defensive about their handling of terrorism threats.
The administration has admitted intelligence failures leading up to the attempted Christmas bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner, and the case re-ignited a debate in Congress about whether such terror suspects should face civilian or military justice.
Moving the trial from the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, near the site of the World Trade Centre, would be a major political setback.
The officials would not discuss locations under consideration but suggestions have included Governors Island, a former military base in New York Harbour that now welcomes summertime picnickers and bike riders, the US Military Academy at West Point or Stewart Air National Guard Base in nearby Newburgh, New York, 60 miles (100 kilometres) north of Manhattan.
Obama has maintained his support for a civilian trial.
White House spokesman Bill Burton said Thursday that the President is committed to seeing Mohammed and his alleged accomplices brought to justice, and believes that it can be done successfully and securely in a federal court.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who originally supported plans to hold the trial in Manhattan, reversed his position this week and called Holder to lobby for moving the proceedings.
The city has claimed it will cost hundreds of (m) millions of US dollars to provide security for a court case which is expected to last at least a year.
Bloomberg said in his weekly radio show on Friday that he had spoken with several "high level" people in the administration about his concerns. He said the administration understands and is "trying to do something."
Lawmakers stepped up their opposition after Bloomberg''s u-turn and New York Senator Charles Schumer called the White House to urge them to move the trial elsewhere.
New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters on Friday that a backlash had made it ''unlikely'' that the case would go forward in the city.