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Bush Administration Chooses Civilian Court for Moussaoui's Trial
WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (News Agencies) - The United States has opted to try Zacarias Moussaoui, a suspect in the September 11 attacks, in civilian court, instead of controversial military courts approved for trials relating to terrorism.
Moussaoui, 33, a French national of Moroccan descent, will appear in court January 2 on six counts relating to terrorism, at a federal court just outside Washington in Alexandria, Virginia.
The charges range from conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, destroy aircraft and murder U.S. employees, to conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.
However, the White House made clear the United States, in choosing a civilian court, was not bowing to pressure from critics over its November 13 announcement that foreign nationals suspected of terrorism could be tried before a military court.
Bush "still feels very strongly that the military tribunal are a very important option in the war against terrorism," spokeswoman Claire Buchan said Wednesday.
The U.S. president authorized the use of military tribunals for prosecution of suspected terrorists who are not U.S. nationals, a measure that has provoked criticism at home and abroad.
Despite the choice of civilian courts, France's justice minister Wednesday warned of possible diplomatic ramifications with the United States if Moussaoui faces execution.
Four of the charges against Moussaoui carry the death penalty.
Justice Minister Marylise Lebranchu said: "This person will benefit ... from French consular protection, in order to guarantee the rights of the defense... This is the first thing we're asking for because we do not accept the death penalty, nor special tribunals."
The French Foreign Ministry noted, however, that the detainee had so far failed to take French consular protection.
According to the New York Times, Pentagon officials have pressured for the Frenchman, indicted Tuesday, to appear before a military tribunal.
The White House said that Bush's decision, however, was made taking into account concerns for the jury's safety and intelligence relating to the attacks.
"Based on the information he [Bush] was given ... a decision was made that he could be tried in civil court, that it wouldn't jeopardize intelligence," Buchan told reporters.
Criminal law expert Ira Robbins believes the administration's decision not to use a military tribunal in Moussaoui's case will boost U.S. credibility.
"We gain a lot of credibility and it helps us in the international scene by having an open trial with evidence on the record by a regular rather than a military jury," said Robbins, a professor of law at American University.
Robbins said Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft had "lost a lot of credibility" on the tribunals issue - among a number taken by the U.S. government relating to the crisis provoked by the attacks.
Another measure allows the government to listen in on conversations between federal detainees suspected of terrorist activities and their attorneys.
"Probably they are backing off," Robbins added.
According to a document from the U.S. Justice Department, Moussaoui attended an al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan, received flight training in the United States, inquired about crop dusters, and received funding from sources in Germany and the Middle East.
A Justice Department official said Moussaoui has not yet chosen a lawyer to represent him.
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