Political Quotes

“Madam President, I wish to rise in support of the Feinstein-Leahy-Lee legislation. We are taking up the Defense authorization bill with the controversial provisions in it, somewhat protected already by the Feinstein language. But this legislation locks in a fundamental truth that I think is important for our country, and that is as a U.S. citizen inside the territory of the United States, you have inalienable rights under our Declaration of Independence. We are protected pursuant to the U.S. Constitution. Our Constitution says all crimes, and prosecution thereof, shall be pursuant to a grand jury indictment. There is no exception in the Constitution for that. The Constitution grants a U.S. citizen a trial in the State in which the crime was committed, I think clearly envisioning a civilian trial. We, as Americans, have a right to a speedy trial, not indefinite detention. We as Americans have a right to a jury of our peers, which I would argue is not enlisted or military personnel sitting in a jury. You cannot search our persons or our places of business or homes without probable cause under the Bill of Rights. You cannot be deprived of your freedom or your property without due process of law, and that, I would say, is not indefinite detention. All due process guarantees under law are granted to you by the 14th amendment. I would actually argue that no statute and no Senate and no House can take these rights away from you.…”