Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) released a statement Tuesday voicing outrage that captured al Qaeda leader Abu Anas al-Libi will be receiving a trial in federal court in New York.
"It is despicable that under the direction of President Obama foreign terrorists who have targeted and killed innocent people are being provided the same rights as American citizens," said Inhofe.
Al Libi was involved in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The bombings killed more than 200 people, including 12 Americans.
He was reportedly being held and interrogated on a ship in the Mediterranean before he was brought onto U.S. soil.
Inhofe thinks that the decision to bring al Libi onto U.S. soil was a mistake and that he should have instead have been detained in Guantanamo Bay.
"If al-Libi were instead detained in Guantanamo Bay, he could be held for the duration of hostilities, his interrogation could continue, and still stand trial."
"Al Libi, an alleged senior terrorist, was only questioned 10 days out on a ship in the middle of an ocean," said Inhofe. "Now that he is on U.S. soil, he will be read his Miranda rights making it much more difficult to gather intelligence to prevent future attacks."
"The president's agenda to close Gitmo is a blatant unwillingness to confront global terrorism and it only emboldens our enemies to continue their despicable acts against humanity."