Faking Toughness on Terrorism
Calls to declare Sayfullo Saipov an enemy combatant and send him to Guantanamo threaten the Constitution while doing nothing to advance public safety.
by Conor Friedersdorf
Nov 02, 2017
3 minutes
On Wednesday, prosecutors filed charges in civilian court against 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, the man accused of using a truck to kill eight in New York City. Critics like Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator John McCain, and President Donald Trump quickly suggested that America should get tough and declare him an enemy combatant instead.
The public should reject that view as ill-considered and idiotic.
In civilian court, Saipov will be eligible for the death penalty,
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