WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10) today commented on the statement made by Admiral Dennis C. Blair, the Director of National Intelligence, who told the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the FBI did not consult with senior national security officials before they decided to hold Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab with civilian charges. Rep. Miller has introduced the Terrorist Detention and Prosecution Act of 2010, which will give the United States an essential tool it needs to detain terrorists who commit acts within our borders, to interrogate them for information that will protect American citizens and then try them before military commissions.

“Today, the Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee and admitted that the FBI made a serious mistake when it decided to try Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in civilian court without even consulting with intelligence officials. Blair stated that Abdulmutallab should have been brought before the High Value Interrogation Group, which was set up last year after President Obama made the decision to close the Guantanamo Bay prison facility.

“After the terrorist attack on Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit, President Obama made the statement that many mistakes were made that allowed Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to get on that plane. But today, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair admitted that the mistakes did not end there. He noted that the FBI made the decision to charge Abdulmutallab in civilian court without even consulting with American intelligence officials or turning him over to the High Value Interrogation Group, which was created to deal with these types of terrorists. This is simply appalling and unacceptable. Instead of learning more about his training with al Qaeda in Yemen and perhaps gathering information about other planned attacks, the FBI decided to give this terrorist the right to remain silent and a taxpayer funded attorney.

“The Obama Administration has a duty to take the terrorist threat to our nation seriously and all levels of our national security apparatus need to be on the same page. Clearly, the FBI and the Justice Department do not believe that preventing future acts of terrorism is more important that affording Constitutional rights to those caught in the act. Attorney General Eric Holder has already shown his disdain for those engaged in gathering the intelligence we need to keep this nation safe through his appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate CIA actions which had previously been investigated. Now, he didn’t even bother to inform or consult with intelligence officials about a captured al Qaeda operative. Attorney General Holder owes the American people an explanation for this dereliction of duty and the President needs to hold him accountable.

“I have been saying since this attack, this terrorist needed to be tried as an enemy combatant and that is why I have introduced the Terrorist Detention and Prosecution Act of 2010 which will give the President the clear authority to try foreign terrorists caught in the United States in military courts. The terrorist threat against our nation is real and was brought vividly back to our attention by the near disaster on Northwest 253 over the skies of Detroit. It is time that everyone in this Administration understands that fact and takes appropriate action.”

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