home

DOJ Sends Dozens of Prosecutors Abroad to Help Prosecute Terrorists

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Fri Nov 14, 2014 at 08:41:00 AM EST
Tags: DOJ, war on terror, ISIS (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Attorney General Eric Holder today said that DOJ has been sending dozens of prosecutors to countries in the Balkans, Middle East and North Africa to assist those countries in prosecuting returning and/or captured terrorists from ISIS and other terror groups.

"These personnel will provide critical assistance to our allies in order to help prosecute those who return from the Syrian region bent on committing acts of terrorism."

The cooperation includes "information sharing, investigations and prosecutions, and countering violent extremism."

According to another DOJ official, so far 70 prosecutors have been dispatched. [More...]

A senior Justice Department official said about 70 prosecutors were working in several countries including Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo and Serbia, as well as in North Africa and the Middle East.

A regional prosecutor specializing in anti-terrorism will be based in Albania to coordinate work in the Balkans and the director of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law has moved to Malta.

Holder says the goal is not to establish U.S. legal systems in these countries. Yet, prosecutors are helping them draft laws like the U.S. law against providing material support to terrorists.

I'm skeptical. The emphasis on "information sharing" and tracking militants seems to me to be doublespeak for teaching foreign prosecutors how to draft laws granting law enforcement greater electronic surveillance authority and training foreign law enforcement how to conduct it. On the other hand, if it reduces the number of foreign fighters the U.S. seeks to extradite here for prosecution, then maybe it isn't so bad. It could end up saving us a lot of money.

< Thursday Open Thread | From Stingrays to Dirt Boxes: Evolving Surveillance Techniques >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    DOJ Sends Dozens of Prosecutors Abroad to Help Prosecute Terrorists | 5 comments (5 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    And a few of these prosecutors (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by fishcamp on Fri Nov 14, 2014 at 05:33:17 AM EST
    could lose their heads over their new jobs.

    The U.S. Government has sent judges (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 14, 2014 at 08:40:40 AM EST
    and prosecutors abroad for many years.

    These Countries Mostly Use Justinian Law (none / 0) (#3)
    by RickyJim on Fri Nov 14, 2014 at 09:33:48 AM EST
    Indictment is the decision of an investigative judge.  Panels of judges examine the witnesses and decide cases and the power of lawyers in the courtroom to present evidence is curtailed.  Does the US Department of Justice have that many experts in such proceedings?  Also, privacy laws in Europe are stronger than they are in the US.

    Parent
    The visiting legal persons help write (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 14, 2014 at 10:23:04 AM EST
    constitutions, help set up drug courts, and, in one case, assist in drafting "torture" policy!

    Parent
    Well, (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Zorba on Fri Nov 14, 2014 at 01:44:55 PM EST
    Isn't that special?  Not.   :-(
    Thanks for the info, Oc.

    Parent
    DOJ Sends Dozens of Prosecutors Abroad to Help Prosecute Terrorists | 5 comments (5 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment