Mike Levin: “In other words, a determination by the United States could not be contested, even if there is overwhelming evidence that…”

“In other words, a determination by the United States could not be contested, even if there is overwhelming evidence that the claim was incorrect. These changes in the committee bill, a bill which was approved on a bipartisan basis in our committee, the changes that appear in the bill which is now before us, taken together, will put our own troops at risk if other countries decide to apply similar standards to our troops if they are captured and detained. These changes in the bill before us from the committee bill are likely to result in the reversal of convictions on appeal, and that means that efforts to convict these people of crimes can be readily reversed on appeal because of the changes that were made in the committee bill and the fact, which seems to me to be quite clear, that they do not comply in many instances with the requirements set forth in Hamdan, and the changes in the bill before us from the committee bill are inconsistent with American values. I particularly again highlight the search and seizure requirements of our fourth amendment and the way that seems to be abandoned in the bill before us. I close by applauding, again, Senators Warner, McCain, and Graham for their willingness to stand up to the administration and at least at the Armed Services Committee produce a bill that we were able to approve in the Armed Services Committee on a strong bipartisan vote.”