On Capitol Hill, the House has passed a defense authorization act that modifies the military commissions system at Guantanamo Bay. The measure includes new restrictions on hearsay and coerced testimony, while increasing prisoners’ access to evidence and witnesses. It also includes a provision that would require the recording of all interrogations. The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the new changes but said the legislation still falls short of adhering to the Constitution and Geneva Conventions. ACLU Senior Legislative Counsel Christopher Anders said, “As long as we are using anything but our time-tested federal court system, the military commissions will remain a second class system of justice.”
House Modifies Gitmo Trials
HeadlineOct 09, 2009