"There have not been a lot of terrorist prosecutions in civilian courts".
They have since waged a long struggle to ensure that terrorist prosecutions meet what they say are basic standards of fairness.
Now, as these terrorists face prosecution, there are a lot of intelligence methods that need to be protected, and the military commission process is probably the better process.
In addition, the national security framework lost credibility as 6,400 persons were referred for terrorist-related prosecutions in the two years following 9/11, and the federal government justified measures like the interdiction and detention of Haitian boat people as security imperatives.
Further, as documented in his 2013 book "The Terror Factory: Inside The FBI's Manufactured War of Terrorism" investigative reporter Trever Aaronson found that of 508 defendants the U.S. government considered terrorists in prosecutions brought since 9/11, "243 had been targeted through an FBI informant, 158 had been caught in an FBI terrorism sting and 49 had encountered an agent provocateur".
In an unusual move, a federal magistrate judge said today that lawyers for a man charged with trying to sell shoulder-fired missiles to terrorists could question prosecution witnesses at a hearing to determine if the man should be held without bail.
Officially, the statements said, the main topic was "cooperation in the criminal prosecution of terrorist activities".
Over her objections, the Justice Department recently consolidated prosecution of terrorist cases in Washington.
The data may be used only for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime.
"The attorney general has made clear that the prevention and prosecution of terrorist acts is the Department of Justice's No. 1 priority," Mr. Comey said.
