Dispute over terrorist detainees widens in Senate

“It’s nothing short of outrageous that the majority leader is blocking this important bill from being debated and passed by the Senate based on misguided objections that the Administration has raised to a bipartisan provision in the defense authorization bill which addresses how we detain and treat terrorists who are captured under the law of war,” said Ayotte decrying Reid’s failure to call the bill to the floor.

Reid has threatened to keep the entire 2012 defense authorization bill off the Senate floor since it includes a provision that would clear the way for indefinite detentions of suspected al Qaeda members and similar groups. The provision ensures that terrorism suspects would be kept out of the civilian court system and instead be held in military custody, while awaiting their trials.

Earlier in the day Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also released a letter calling Reid to release the funding legislation and to honor the provision, which was placed in the legislation unanimously by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

John T. Bennett contributed