Graham Tries To Cut Deal With White House On Guantanamo Closure

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told the White House on Sunday that there is only one way to close Guantánamo Bay: by abandoning civilian 9/11 trials.

Graham said Sunday that if the White House agrees to try self-professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspirators in military tribunals, he will help the president get the votes needed to close the Guantánamo Bay prison facilities.

Is The 9/11 Trial Headed For New Haven?

Is the Justice Department considering relocating the federal criminal trial of self-professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspirators to New Haven, Conn.? The Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post, citing unnamed Obama administration officials, says yes. But a spokeswoman for New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., the city has not been in contact with Justice Department officials about the possibility.

Justice Department Will Look For A New Venue To Hold 9/11 Trial

The Obama administration has signaled that it wants the Justice Department to relocate the 9/11 terror trials, according to Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The Senator’s spokesman, Josh Vlasto, said Schumer spoke “with high-level members of the administration and urged them to find alternatives.” The move comes a little more than a day after Mayor Michael Bloomberg called on the Justice Department to change the venue of the trial.