Holder: We Will Seek The Death Penalty For 9/11 Suspects

In a press conference this morning, Attorney General Eric Holder said he will seek the death penalty against five suspects in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including self-proclaimed mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, when they are tried in civilian court in New York City.

Holder said another five terrorist suspects, including those allegedly involved in the bombing of the USS Cole, will be referred to the Department of Defense. All 10 are currently being held in Guantanamo Bay.

He said he is confident the trials will result in conviction.

"I would not have authorized prosecution if I was not confident our outcome would be a successful one," he told reporters.

He did not announce the specific charges against the five suspects.

He said the 9/11 suspects will only be brought to New York after all legal obligations have been fulfilled, including a required 45-day notice and report to Congress. He said he has met with Gov. David Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to discuss security and other issues.

Holder dismissed concerns that holding the trials in New York will make the city more of a target for future attacks.

"New York has a long history of trying these kind of cases. New York has a hardened system," he said. "I don't think that criticism is factually based."

He also dismissed criticisms that this move would, in effect, bring the alleged perpetrators back to the scene of the crime.

Trying suspects near the location of a crime is "something that typically happens in criminal law," Holder responded. "It's a fundamental tenet of jurisprudence."

As to the families of those killed in terrorist attacks, Holder said, "Nothing can bring back those loved ones. But they deserve to see the alleged perpetrators of those attacks held accountable in open court."

He also took a question on White House Counsel Greg Craig, who today announced his resignation. Craig was in charge of closing Guantanamo Bay.

Holder said Craig is a "great lawyer" and a "great friend," and an "unfair proportion" of the blame for the administration's troubles in closing Gitmo has been laid on Craig's shoulders.

Holder said he expects much of the trial to be "open to the public, open to the world," but said some parts are likely to be closed.