FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 WWW.USDOJ.GOV CRM (202) 514-2008 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON, D.C.- "We believe that the Constitution does not require, and national security will not permit, the Government to allow Moussaoui, an avowed terrorist, to have direct access to his terrorist confederates who have been detained abroad as enemy combatants in the midst of a war. We believe there are other ways in which to assure Moussaoui the fundamentally fair trial that the Constitution does require. If the district court now dismisses the indictment -- which is the procedural step contemplated by both the earlier ruling of the Court of Appeals in this case and by the laws governing classified information -- the Government will be ensured its opportunity to obtain prompt appellate review of the direct access issue. The same procedures will ensure that Moussaoui stays detained pending appeal. We believe this will allow the Department of Justice to resolve the impediments to trial. We remain confident in the ability of our judicial system to try this case, and we look forward to bringing Moussaoui to justice." 03-531
Source: US Department of Justice
