WASHINGTON -- The Democratic-controlled Senate has blocked a GOP-led effort to prevent Sept. 11 terrorists from being prosecuted in civilian federal courts.
Instead, senators voted 54-45 on Thursday to support an administration request to give officials the flexibility to prosecute Sept. 11 terrorists in either federal court or by military commission.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says it's simply wrong to treat the Sept. 11 attacks as a criminal act instead of a war crime. Graham says the Sept. 11 terrorists don't deserve the same rights as U.S. citizens.
Others say U.S. courts have processed far more terrorists than military courts and that the Pentagon and Justice departments should determine the best venue to prosecute them.
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