There’s no indication that the terrorism trial of the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks will move from New York to the Elm City, despite a web frenzy that broke out Monday afternoon.
The 9/11 frenzy started with a speculative report entitled “New Haven Reportedly Considered For Terror Trial” and posted on the Connecticut Law Tribune website.
“Reportedly” turned out to be a flimsy adverb. The story used as its basis for the speculation days-old mentions by The New York Post and Fox News. The two “news organizations” cited unnamed “sources” as speculating that the trials of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four accomplices could move to other cities in the greater New York region, including Otisville, N.Y., White Plains, N.Y., or New Haven. Theoretically.
That trial was originally scheduled to take place in New York City. Then last week, amid mounting opposition in the Big Apple, the Obama Administration “reportedly” (according to The New York Times) decided to look for a new location.
Which sent pundits on a speculation hunt to help feed the insatiable appetite of the 24/7 news cycle.
The Law Tribune report provoked a flood of calls to law enforcement agencies here and in D.C., including the U.S. marshal’s service and the Justice Department.
None of those spokesmen would comment, except Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd in D.C.
He sort of commented. He said no decision has been made.
“With respect to any new locations of the 9/11 trial, there’s been no decision made,” Boyd told the Independent Monday afternoon.
“We’re considering our options. I’m not going to detail what options are or aren’t on the table.”
New Haven Police Chief James Lewis said he hadn’t heard about the speculation. No one’s contacted him about the possibility of holding the trial here, he said. If anyone were to ask him — as the Independent did — he has an emphatic assessment.
“I think it would be too much for New Haven” to handle, Lewis remarked, “from the standpoint of the congestion with all the news media. There’s not that many hotels downtown. It would be too difficult to handle.”
Of course, there is a plan to bring another new hotel downtown … reportedly … It will reportedly be a four-star affair.
(Click here and here to read about a terrorism trial that really did take place in New Haven.)
I hope they bring the trial here. Since all the progressives believe that this is the right thing to do, now they can have it in their own backyard. Maybe some of the more left-leaning residents can start a petition to help poor KSM get his "fair" trial here so that at least one campaign promise can be fulfilled.