George's Bottom Line
Reporting and analysis from ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent and "This Week" Host George Stephanopoulos

George Stephanopoulos reports on events in politics, Congress and the White House for ABCNews, on the air and online. He interviews top newsmakers, discusses the events of the week and looks to the week ahead each Sunday on 'This Week.'

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Hillary 'Won't Second Guess' Holder

November 15, 2009 8:00 AM

An oddly distanced phrase came from Secretary Clinton when I asked her about AG Holder’s Friday decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed – the confessed mastermind of the 911 plot –and his accomplices in Federal Court in Manhattan.

"I won’t second guess the Attorney General,” Clinton told me. “My goal is to make sure that the mastermind and the other implementers and designers of the horrific attack pay the ultimate penalty for what they did to the United States and a lot of people who I know and had the honor of representing.”

No such distancing from former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He blasted Holder’s decision: “basically in this particular case, we’re reaching out to give terrorist a benefit that is unnecessary. In fact Khalid Sheikh Mohammed when he was first arrested asked to be brought to New York, I didn’t think we were in the business of granting the request of terrorist.”

But how does Rudy square that position with his praise for the trial of the 20th Hijacker Zacarias Moussaoui in federal court? I pressed him to reconcile the contradiction and he said a trial in Federal court isn’t the only option and bringing these alleged terrorists to New York brings an unnecessary element of risk to the city.

He also blasted the Obama administration for what he called a slow reaction to the Ft. Hood shooting saying the administration is, “getting away from the fact that we’re at war with these terrorists.”

Watch the exchange HERE:
- George Stephanopoulos

November 15, 2009 in Afghanistan, Hillary Clinton, This Week with George Stephanopoulos | Permalink | Share | User Comments (34)

User Comments

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Trial of the Century!!!!! I bet on my country and it's "might" to try and convict these participants in one of the BEST courts in the United States! We have the most Magnificant court systems in the WORLD....And I believe in the Constitution, NOT when it's convienent BUT EVERYDAY....Everyday!!!!!

Posted by: sara | Nov 15, 2009 8:08:41 AM

I'm with you Sara. And the current mayor of New York is too. New York has tried and convicted terrorists before, as have other countries like Spain and India. I'm glad we're not bowing to the terrorists, and we're sticking to our principles, as tough as that may be.

Posted by: Alyson | Nov 15, 2009 8:28:08 AM

All you liberals are about to get what you wanted. Hope you like what you get.

Posted by: LongT | Nov 15, 2009 9:05:28 AM

Holder doesn't have a clue and is dangerous.

Posted by: LongT | Nov 15, 2009 9:06:36 AM

What a team player!

Posted by: LongT | Nov 15, 2009 9:58:12 AM

That's because Hillary, for all of her faults, is intelligent and not as sympathetic to Muslim terrorists as others in this administration are. Anybody with half a brain or more can look at the situation and see that this is going to be a big f*cking disaster.

Posted by: CH | Nov 15, 2009 10:01:57 AM

I don't care where they try these bums, I am sure they will be better represented than the average America. As far as Holder he should be replaced ASAP he is un-American and a racist and unworthy of the office Obama gave him.

Posted by: A Citizen | Nov 15, 2009 10:05:41 AM

Just wondering which American attorneys will represent the terrorists in the court. This will be interesting to watch.

Posted by: what667 | Nov 15, 2009 10:19:39 AM

George has tried to make a story out of everything lately. If someone says 'uh', there's some hidden meaning to the utterance.

George as Hillary for an opinion-giving one would be a form of 'second guessing' and she declined to do so.

No story 'George', just babble.

Posted by: Vick | Nov 15, 2009 10:29:47 AM

She won't second guess him because it would not be politically correct. But what does not endorsing it say? And what influence will their nation of origin have upon the trial?

Posted by: TX_MBell | Nov 15, 2009 11:44:52 AM

Can anyone tell me why Hillary Clinton's opinion matters? Only thing Hillary accomplished was marrying Bill Clinton.
The NY senate seat was bought and paid for.

When left to her own devices this woman has shown herself to be something of a nut as she makes stories up, lies, etc.
It floors me why anyone would go to her for an opinion.

Hillary quote

"“My goal is to make sure that the mastermind and the other implementers and designers of the horrific attack "
Implementers, Designers? LOL..who speaks like that?

Contrary to what DEMS say, this woman is an idiot, yes, she's STOOPID! <--DEM spelling.

Chevy

Posted by: Chevy55sc | Nov 15, 2009 11:56:20 AM

Well given the terrorists American rights---just sentenced many americans and others to death. We will be terror attacked more because of this. Impeach and then try Obama and his administration for an assortment of crimes.

Posted by: VeryPainfulTruth | Nov 15, 2009 12:09:33 PM

Posted by: sara | Nov 15, 2009 8:08:41 AM
Wrong, in the trial of the World Trade Center bombers, all four were supposed to get the death penalty, two got off because their lawyer argued that no Arab would get a fair trial in the US and won, so they got life in prison. One of the bombers even continued his terrorist activities from Supermax with the help of his lawyer who eventually got arrested. Of course Giuliani praised that trial, they were tried constitutionally and in the right place due to the fact that they lived here. Completely different from the status of the 9/11 terrorists.

Posted by: Ferrari5858 | Nov 15, 2009 12:58:20 PM

In the first place, al Qaeda is well funded and these useless creeps will have the best attorneys in the world. That's because we can't drill for our own oil, we have to finance countries that sponsor terror by buying oil from them. Secondly, Hillary was told what to say by the administration...that's obvious.

Posted by: Bill | Nov 15, 2009 1:05:12 PM

She won't second guess... and that's a whole LOT better than her trying to first guess.

It;s just too bad, with her lack of cognitive skills, that all she can do on ANY issue is just guess....

Posted by: Laughin__ALL_The_Way | Nov 15, 2009 1:07:08 PM

Chevy55sc - You said "Only thing Hillary accomplished was marrying Bill Clinton."

Funny... I'm still trying to figure out how even THAT can somehow be interpreted as being an "accomplishment." Sounds to me like just another in a long line of FAILURES... but what can you expect, coming out of Arkansas?

Posted by: Laughin__ALL_The_Way | Nov 15, 2009 1:09:19 PM

Chevy55sc - You said "Only thing Hillary accomplished was marrying Bill Clinton."

Funny... I'm still trying to figure out how even THAT can somehow be interpreted as being an "accomplishment." Sounds to me like just another in a long line of FAILURES... but what can you expect, coming out of Arkansas?

Posted by: Laughin__ALL_The_Way | Nov 15, 2009 1:09:19 PM

George- Try focusing on the issue- not trying to make a story where there is none- this is Holder's decision , not Clinton's. So ask the important question to Holder- Why are these specific individulas being tried in civilian court in US while some others received a military hearing. That's the real question here . George- try asking some tough questions to the correct people, vs just trying to stir up trouble and gossip which does nothing to benefit this country.

Posted by: Angela | Nov 15, 2009 1:21:06 PM

George- Try focusing on the issue- not trying to make a story where there is none- this is Holder's decision , not Clinton's. So ask the important question to Holder- Why are these specific individulas being tried in civilian court in US while some others received a military hearing. That's the real question here . George- try asking some tough questions to the correct people, vs just trying to stir up trouble and gossip which does nothing to benefit this country

Posted by: Angela | Nov 15, 2009 1:23:03 PM

Trial of the Century!!!!! I bet on my country and it's "might" to try and convict these participants in one of the BEST courts in the United States! We have the most Magnificant court systems in the WORLD....And I believe in the Constitution, NOT when it's convienent BUT EVERYDAY....Everyday!!!!!


Posted by: sara | Nov 15, 2009 8:08:41 AM
_______________________________________

This is not a rock concert or a movie premiere!! The terrorists are not American citizens and shouldn't be treated as such. It is time to drop your idol worship of Obama and do what is best for our country.

Posted by: whathappened08 | Nov 15, 2009 1:29:57 PM

One Question....Has our president ever hear of marandizing suspects ?......Thanks Obama, you just released 5 terrorists......Of course, maybe he's hoping one of the public will take care his problem.......I guess that would be one way to empty Gitmo.

Posted by: Speakinuptoo | Nov 15, 2009 1:55:03 PM

Gee,Hillary agrees with Holder! What a revelation and like anybody really CARES. I care about the people of New York and the victims. they should not have these people in their state on trial, but then again, what do you expect, these are demmies doing this...........

Posted by: Ann | Nov 15, 2009 2:50:03 PM

Holder is a tax dodger, anti american and a dunce. He is playing directly in the hands of Osama.

Posted by: Jim Hoyt | Nov 15, 2009 4:05:04 PM

Soros Grabs State Positions That Control Elections

Dec. 10 (EIRNS)—According to the website of the “Secretary of State Project,” created in 2006 by the George Soros apparatus, the state position of Secretary of State, with power over the election process, has recently been won by candidates sponsored by the Soros Project in Ohio, Montana, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, and New Mexico.

Writing for the Norfolk, Virginia Examiner, former Denver election commissioner Jan Tyler reports that the “Colorado Secretary of State’s position is up for grabs. Many questioned why Governor Bill Ritter would appoint a committee to recommend a candidate when he has the authority to do so on his own. Instead of giving us confidence in the Governor, we should be skeptical. George Soros’ Secretary of State project works behind the scenes to influence the Secretary of State positions. They have been successful in Ohio and other states. Shouldn’t someone be asking what George Soros is up to in Colorado?”

Posted by: james | Nov 15, 2009 5:13:28 PM

sara said "Trial of the Century!!!!! I bet on my country and it's "might" to try and convict these participants in one of the BEST courts in the United States! We have the most Magnificant court systems in the WORLD....And I believe in the Constitution, NOT when it's convienent BUT EVERYDAY....Everyday!!!!!".......

Then you believe in Section 1 Article two, or is this section inconvenient?

Posted by: pauldia | Nov 15, 2009 5:15:00 PM

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