Former Attorney General John Ashcroft has joined the criticism of Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to try Christmas Day attempted bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in civilian courts, reports MainJustice.com. Ashcroft told Fox News that insisting on jury trials “for all people who are apprehended may simply be compromising national security and our ability to gain intelligence.”
“I think we have to be very careful that we have, as our focal point, national security, and that we don't allow political correctness or institutional or interest groups, if you will, to dictate that we handle things one way, when we should handle them another,” Ashcroft said.