Congresswoman Candice Miller
For Immediate Release: February 5, 2010
Contact: Erin Sayago, 202-226-4709
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10) today requested U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on his decision to Mirandize Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Christmas Day terrorist. Congresswoman Miller, the only member from Michigan on the House Homeland Security Committee, sent a letter to Chairman Bennie Thompson (MS-02) and Ranking Member Peter King (NY-03) asking them to quickly schedule a hearing to hear testimony from A.G. Holder on the actions of the Justice Department following the incident onboard Northwest Flight 253 and the status and operations of the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG).
“As the only member of the Homeland Security Committee from Michigan, this terrorist attack hit close to home,” said Miller. “Our nation was fortunate that this attack did not succeed, and I believe it is vitally important this committee uses its Congressional oversight to review the actions taken by the federal government once the terrorist was in custody. This is why this committee needs to hear directly from Attorney General Holder.”
“Mr. Holder said in a letter to Senator Mitch McConnell that he made the decision to Mirandize Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, ‘with the knowledge of, and with no objection from, all other relevant departments of the government.’ However, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence and Director of the National Counterterrorism Center have all testified that they were not consulted before the decision to Mirandize this suspected terrorist was made,” Miller continued. “It begs the question: Who was consulted and had no objections? The fact that this terrorist is once again talking with the FBI is fortuitous, but our national counterterrorism strategy should not rely on lucky breaks.”
“In addition to hearing from Attorney General Holder, I believe that it is important for the Justice Department to address the status of the HIG, which was set up to address the capture of individuals like Mr. Abdulmutallab,” Miller concluded.
In January, Congresswoman Miller 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.
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