Guantanamo judge rejects 9/11 defense conflict of interest claim

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

US | Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:35am EDT

Guantanamo judge rejects 9/11 defense conflict of interest claim

BY IAN SIMPSON

FORT MEADE, Md. - A Guantanamo Bay judge on Monday rejected claims by lawyers for a Yemeni Sept. 11 suspect that a U.S. government investigation of the attorneys had created an ethical conflict of interest for them.

But the judge, Army Colonel James Pohl, said the defense team would be given access to documents involving the 18-month investigation. Defense lawyers can file a motion if they believe the documents show there is a conflict that could compromise their representation, he said.

The pre-trial hearing stemmed from claims by lawyers for Sept. 11 suspect Ramzi bin al Shibh. They said the defense team was burdened by an ethical conflict resulting from the probe of things the lawyers did for their Yemeni client.

The secret investigation started after defense attorneys allowed a Guantanamo detainee to relay a five-minute personal message through a translator’s telephone call to his family. It concerns whether the lawyers violated national security laws that forbid defendants' communications with unauthorized people.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/26/us-usa-guantanamo-idUSKCN0SK1XR20151026

[bemildred]

1. Kangaroo court. The last thing they want is a fair trial.

A lot of these guys we can't let go because we can't let them talk about what we did to them.