Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne releases letter regarding possibility of Guantanamo Bay prisoners being relocated to Alexandria
Recently, there has been a lot of speculation about whether some or all of the detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay will be transfered to Alexandria when the prison is closed. The Washington Post has been covering the story and it’s been a hot topic on blogs across the region.
Sheriff Lawhorne recently released a letter stating his position on the matter. It’s currently available on the Sheriff’s website and has also been posted here.
Dear Neighbors and Friends,
The closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison and the relocation of its high profile prisoners have once again thrust the City of Alexandria and this Sheriff’s Office before the eyes of our nation and the world. There has been much speculation as to whether the Guantanamo Bay prisoners will stand trial in Federal court here in Alexandria, and whether the Federal government has requested that the prisoners be housed at the Alexandria Detention Center. While I have no knowledge as to where the prisoners will stand trial, I can say that so far, I have received no official request to house the Guantanamo Bay prisoners in our Detention Center.
Alexandria citizens have expressed their desire that the trials not be held in our locality, and that these prisoners not be housed here. I am committed to doing what is best for the citizens of Alexandria. I respect their wishes, and will do all I can to protect their interests.
If, however, the Federal government chooses the Eastern District Court, the prisoners may be housed at the Alexandria Detention Center. The Federal Courthouse in Alexandria was built with an understanding that during the court process, those standing trial will be housed at the Alexandria Detention Center. I have a contract that requires me to hold federal prisoners. I say this with all confidence that in executing my obligation, I can also protect the safety and ensure the best interests of our City. The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office enjoys an excellent working relationship with the local U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. We have a history of working together to ensure that high profile defendants are safely brought to justice. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office served our nation by housing Zacarias Moussaoui, the alleged “20th hijacker”. For five years, the Alexandria Detention Center successfully housed Moussaoui while justice was dispensed at Alexandria’s Federal Courthouse.
I cannot speak to the issues involving the transport of prisoners and the plan for security around the Federal Courthouse. These are matters to be addressed by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Finally, I believe it is best to stay engaged in any discussions involving the trial of Guantanamo Bay prisoners here in Alexandria. Staying involved ensures that we have a say on how this issue is handled. If the Federal government chooses Alexandria as a forum for justice, we want to be the ones to advise the Federal government on the resources we need and to make sure that their decision to bring the prisoners here does not bring with it any cost to you, the taxpayers.
I thank you for your continued support as we work through this issue together. I pledge to keep you informed and to do everything in my power to keep the interests of Alexandrians first. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office at 703-746-4114.
With Warmest Regards,
Dana Lawhorne
A recent Alexandria Times article describes the conditions residents lived with during the Moussaoui trial:
For the residents of southeast Alexandria who remember the six-year proceedings against 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui in their neighborhood federal courthouse, the possibility of one or more new trials of such controversial defendants is worrisome. Eisenhower Avenue separates the jail where Moussaoui was housed, and the dense, newly populated Carlyle neighborhood where Moussaoui was tried, creating a frenzy of security details and media coverage.
The 2006 trial created a strain on residents, who lived in a neighborhood then resembling a military zone, with rooftop snipers and street barricades.
The prospect of returning to this situation for an extended period of time is stressful for area residents.
