Rep. Schock: Terror Suspect Wanted to "Wipe Out" Congressional District

September 25, 2009 1:40 PM

ABC News' David Chalian Reports: 

Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL) is hoping the foiled home grown terrorist plot in Springfield, IL this week will cause the Obama administration to re-think its plans to close down the terrorist detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The terror plot disrupted by an FBI sting operation on Wednesday in Springfield, IL, had a federal courthouse and the Republican congressman's district office in its sights.

Rep. Schock said that the FBI "outlined that the primary target for this individual was the federal court house building in Springfield but that my office which is located across the street was the secondary target."

"He was planning to wipe out my congressional district according to his words," Schock told us on ABC News' "Top Line."

The congressman also said that the suspect is a prime example of why the detainee population at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba should not be transferred to federal prisons inside the United States.

"This is an individual who, from what the FBI told us, is an American citizen who was radicalized while in prison and came out committed to jihad and committed to committing acts of terror," said Rep. Schock.

"And I think it speaks to not only the ongoing threat to America, but also the concern that many of us in Congress have with the president's attempts to close Guantanamo Bay and more of these prisons, move more of these prisoners and these terrorists back here into our country, back into our local prisons and what effect that may have on the security for our country and their ability to win over and proselytize if you will, while in prison," he added.

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos reported today that the Obama administration has conceded it will miss the self-imposed deadline to transfer all the prisoners out of Gitmo and close down the facility by January 22, 2010.

On the domestic political front, Rep. Schock sounded more hopeful for a bipartisan result on health care reform than the current political landscape would suggest possible.  The congressman predicted that the Senate Finance Committee will defeat the push for a public option by Senator Schumer and Senator Rockefeller next week. 

"Once that happens, I'm hoping we can get the majority to move off the dime, give up the public option and move more to center ground which is what the president's talked about.  That 80% that both sides agree on.  And I think if we get a bill that focuses on 80% that you're going to see Republicans and Democrats come together."

And you won't want to miss Rep. Schock's take on what it is like being the youngest member of Congress. 

Watch our entire interview with Rep. Schock HERE.

We also checked in with ABC News' Karen Travers at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh, PA for the latest on President Obama's tough stance against Iran this morning and if it will lead to any concrete action.

Karen also made a bold prediction about the president's plans to win the gold for Chicago 2016.

Watch our interview with Karen Travers HERE.