Political Quotes

“I want to commend Senator Durbin for calling attention to the problems with the judicial system in Peru. He has laid out some very specific cases of two United States citizens who are residents of his State of Illinois. I would also like to call to the attention of my colleagues the case of Ms. Lori Berenson of New York. Ms. Berenson was convicted of treason by a secret military tribunal in January 1996. Since then she has been serving a very tough sentence under exceeding harsh conditions in the Yamamayo prison. Mr. President, I do not know about the innocence or guilt of Ms. Berenson with respect to the crimes with which she has been charged. What I do know is that she was not accorded a fair and open trial which is a hallmark of any democratic legal system. On August 6, 1996, I joined with 19 other Senators in a letter to the President of Peru calling upon him to take all necessary steps to provide an open and fair proceeding in civilian court to Ms. Berenson.”