ACLU: U.S. blocking payments to Guantanamo attorneys

ACLU: U.S. blocking payments to Guantanamo attorneys
By Carol Rosenberg | Miami Herald


GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba — The U.S. government is blocking the American Civil Liberties Union from paying attorneys representing suspected terrorists held here, insisting that the ACLU must first receive a license from the U.S. Treasury Department before making the payments.

ACLU director Anthony Romero on Tuesday accused the Bush administration of "obstruction of justice" by delaying approval of the license, which the government argues is required under U.S. law because the beneficiaries of the lawyers' services are foreign terrorists.

"Now the government is stonewalling again by not allowing Americans' private dollars to be paid to American lawyers to defend civil liberties,'' Romero said.

Treasury Department spokesman John Rankin declined to comment on the showdown with the ACLU, citing privacy policies.

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The bastards simply do not respect our way of life, our due process, and our traditions of fundamental fairness.

gonna happen until 09. I am so grateful to the ACLU for not letting up.

I don't think many realize the assault we've had on our liberties the past 7 years. The Bushies basically ignored every key element of our civil liberties, as well as our treaty obligations. They are lawless.

what slime these motherfuckers are. no low is too low. aaaarrgh

The lawyers are defending them against the charge that they're terrorists. But the lawyers can't be paid because the Bush administration asserts that the charge is true, even before the "tribunal" is conducted. Lovely circular reasoning.

they've been torturing.