Holder Calls US Citizenship a 'Relevant Constitutional Consideration' in Targeted Killings Overseas
When determining whether the United States is justified in placing terrorist operatives overseas on a so-called kill list without first seeking court approval, their American citizenship is a “relevant constitutional consideration” but “alone does not make such individuals immune from being targeted,” Attorney General Eric Holder told law students at Northwestern University on Monday.
He is the highest-ranking official yet in the Obama administration to defend such targeted killings of terror suspects, reports Politico.
“Due process and judicial process are not one and the same, particularly when it comes to national security,” said Holder. “The Constitution guarantees due process, it does not guarantee judicial process.”
Additional and related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “ACLU Sues DOJ to See ‘Targeted Killing’ Legal Justification Memos”
The Atlantic (opinion): “On ‘Targeted Killing’ Speech, Eric Holder Strikes Out”
The Two-Way (NPR): “Attorney General Holder Defends Targeted Killings Of Americans”
