Arlen Specter: “I support the Bingaman amendment and oppose the Graham amendment because the Graham amendment is sophisticated…”

“I support the Bingaman amendment and oppose the Graham amendment because the Graham amendment is sophisticated court-stripping. On the face of the Graham amendment, it says the DC Circuit has exclusive jurisdiction, and on the face of it, that even takes away jurisdiction from the Supreme Court of the United States. To alter habeas corpus in the context where the Supreme Court last June, 2004, found substantial rights of the detainees is court- stripping and would set a very bad precedent, not only for this factual situation but in general. I thank my colleague from New Mexico.”