Roberts threatens to ‘shut down the Senate’ over Gitmo detainees

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) threatened to “shut down the Senate” before he allows terrorist suspects to be relocated to Leavenworth, Kansas.

Roberts heatedly pledged to prevent detainees currently housed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to be relocated to a prison facility in his home state.

“I’ve said it once. I’ll say it many more times: Not in my back yard. Not in Kansas,” Roberts said in a press conference with Kansas reporters. “I will shut down the Senate before I’ll let that happen.”

The Associated Press reported Monday that the Obama administration is examining the Kansas facility as well as a Michigan prison as destination for accused terrorists after they close down the Guantanamo Bay facility.

Roberts said that he would like to see the detainees remain in Cuba, and accused the Obama administration of closing the facility there to appease international allies. He said that he also wouldn’t want detainees to be relocated to Michigan.

“What more proof does this administration need that a new facility will not make housing terrorists more appealing to the international community or international opinion?” Roberts said. “It will just make it less safe for Americans.”

He said that President Obama has changed his mind on several big issues, and that Guantanamo should be no different.

The Kansas Republican chided on another Kansas Republican, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, for not having briefed lawmakers on the Leavenworth facility.