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Over five years after his arrest, multiple trips to the Supreme Court, and being held for years in a military brig without charge, counsel or judicial review--Padilla is found guilty. It's a jury verdict that has been so de-legitimized by the Administration's shenanigans in this case, that it's rendered practically (if not legally) meaningless. And we should all feel guilty for allowing a U.S. citizen to be subjected to this.
The jury ruling has been so de-legitimized by the twisted path to "justice" of the Padilla case that I search in vain for the meaning. He was arrested in May 2002 on a "material witness" warrant. Two days before the District Court was to rule on the validity of continuing to hold him, Bush designated him an "enemy combatant." He petitioned for habeas corpus to the Supreme Court, which dismissed his petition on technical grounds for being filed in the wrong court against the wrong person. He refiled in the proper court and got a favorable decision. But then a panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Bush DOES have the authority to detain him without charges indefinitely. Meanwhile, the Administration released highly-inflammatory information alleging that Padilla was planning to blow up apartment buildings here in the U.S. (He was originally said to have wanted to set off a radiological "dirty bomb.") Padilla again appeals to the Supreme Court. A few days before Bush has to file arguments, Padilla is indicted in Miami on charges that he conspired to "murder, kidnap and maim" people overseas--charges totally unrelated to what the government used to justify holding him without charges.
So, he and his two co-defendants are found guilty of "support of terrorism" charges--not a big surprise given the jury's quick return from its day-and-a-half deliberations (never a good sign) following a 3-month trial.
But the conviction is a really a reflection on us. We are all guilty for letting a U.S. citizen be subjected to this kind of "justice."
3 comments:
Putting everything else aside, I think it's pretty obvious through his actions that Padilla is a bad guy. A really bad guy.
While there is confusion on his mission or role in Al Queda it's indisputable he had one.
Let the lagal experts clarify and define what should be done in casses like this but, meanwhile, kiss your children good night and be thankful that fucks like this are being put away.
Given freedom of action, he would have killed folks.
And, umm, what actions would these be, exactly, Gonz?
Conspiracy to commit terrorist acts kind of speaks for itself, doesn't it?
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