Democrats Hope to Expand Rights at Guantánamo

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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/washington/06gitmo.html?ei=5088&en=14a06ad4effcebeb&ex=1338782400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1181139575-lONBJHgEfAs/XoBYqkXncA

Democrats Hope to Expand Rights at Guantánamo

By JEFF ZELENY
Published: June 6, 2007

WASHINGTON, June 5 — A day after two military judges ruled against the Bush administration’s system for trying terrorism detainees, Democrats seized on the rulings on Tuesday as evidence that Congress should restore the right of those held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to challenge their detentions.

Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who is the majority leader, said he would be willing to bring such legislation to the floor. The Senate Judiciary Committee is preparing to approve such a plan on Thursday.

Senator Patrick J. Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said the rulings on Monday in two cases added urgency to the push to restore detainees’ right to file habeas corpus suits. Congress eliminated that right last year while redesigning the military tribunals after the Supreme Court struck down the first plan.

Mr. Leahy criticized the administration for insisting on an approach to the tribunals “which even conservative courts say no to.”

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