John Ashcroft Can Be Sued For Post-9/11 Detentions, Court Rules

[Me.]

“BOISE, Idaho — A federal appeals court delivered a stinging rebuke Friday to the Bush administration's post-Sept. 11 detention policies, ruling that former Attorney General John Ashcroft can be held liable for people who were wrongfully detained as material witnesses after 9/11.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the government's improper use of material witnesses after Sept. 11 was "repugnant to the Constitution and a painful reminder of some of the most ignominious chapters of our national history."

The court found that a man who was detained as a witness in a federal terrorism case can sue Ashcroft for allegedly violating his constitutional rights. Abdullah al-Kidd, a U.S. citizen and former University of Idaho student, filed the lawsuit against Ashcroft and other officials in 2005, claiming his civil rights were violated when he was detained as a material witness for two weeks in 2003.

He said the investigation and detention not only caused him to lose a scholarship to study in Saudi Arabia, but cost him employment opportunities and caused his marriage to fall apart.

He argued that his detention exemplified an illegal government policy created by Ashcroft to arrest and detain people – particularly Muslim men and those of Arab decent – as material witnesses if the government suspected them of a crime but had no evidence to charge them.” Cont…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/john-ashcroft-can-be-sued_n_277958.html

[csziggy]

1. K&R sink this sank like a rock

[Me.]

3. Different Stokes I Guess

This news made me :rofl:

[csziggy]

5. I think the various members of the previous mis-administration should be worried about now

Many of their actions will be coming back to bite them in the ass real soon, I hope.

[Me.]

8. The Al Capone Karma Ghost

If you can't get justice one way, try another. This will bite Mr. Let The Eagle Soar in his tail feather.

[csziggy]

9. Yes, it doesn't really matter how they get caught, I just want them locked up

Actually I would prefer that they get charged and convicted of the mockery they made of the Constitution and of their abuse of Executive power but if we can't get anyone to do that, lock them up any way we can!

[LAGC]

2. Wow, this is right in my neck of the woods.

I remember that case well.

Here's an ACLU press release from 2006 that shows an Idaho judge ruling that the government can't use material witness statute to detain people as suspects:

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/detention/26935prs20060928.html

This would seem to be a natural culmination of that decision.

[Me.]

4. A Jidge In Idaho No Less!

Thanks

[Me.]

6. That Should Read Judge

[lame54]

7. K&R

[ShortnFiery]

10. No Worries! Our right leaning SCOTUS will over-turn it - Everything for the powerful and elite.

:(