By Associated Press
Frankfort, KY – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder repeating his request to reconsider holding civilian trials for two Iraqis arrested in Bowling Green last month.
McConnell released that letter on Tuesday, saying the decision to treat Waad Ramadan Alwan and Mohanad Shareef Hammadi as civilian criminal defendants in federal court in Bowling Green is "ill-advised."
The men were charged with trying to send weapons and money to al-Qaida operatives in Iraq.
McConnell also told Holder that a Bowling Green trial is widely opposed by Kentuckians and their elected leaders.
Holder has defended his position, saying terrorism-related trials can be successfully handled by civilian courts.
McConnell wants the men sent to a Navy-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.