WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday there may be 50 or more trials of Guantanamo Bay detainees as the Obama administration works to shut the detention center by next year.
Holder discussed the plan before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where the senior Republican called him “too silent” on terrorism while a second GOP lawmaker said he was on the right track.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., criticized Holder for the release of Bush administration memos that authorized harsh interrogation techniques. Sessions said the memos gave important information to America’s enemies.
Holder told senators that protecting Americans from terrorists is his top priority.
Under questioning from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Holder outlined efforts to close Guantanamo. Last week, the administration shipped 10 detainees from Guantanamo, leaving 229 still there.
President Barack Obama has ordered the center closed by January.
Graham said he expected about one-quarter or fewer of the inmates to be brought to civilian or military trial. Holder said he thought that figure was “about right.”
Holder did not commit to a specific figure and said officials have worked through about half the cases so far.
“I don’t think we’re going to have a very huge number” going to trial, Holder said.
Several of the lawyers representing detainees have previously estimated about two dozen might end up on trial.
