HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement regarding news that the U.S. Justice Department was considering moving the criminal trial of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed to Western Pennsylvania.

“Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his fellow Al-Qaeda terrorists have already left a deep stain on the history of this country and certainly our Commonwealth,” Gleason said. “To afford him the opportunity to once again threaten the security of Western Pennsylvania is simply unacceptable, and our Party is ready to do everything in our power to ensure that this ridiculous concept does not come to fruition.

“Sadly, the fact that this possibility is even being discussed is due to the actions of Democrats like Representatives Jason Altmire and Joe Sestak, who voted with Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow terrorists to be held and tried on American soil. While Congressman Altmire may be touting his efforts to keep the trial away from Western Pennsylvania, his voting record tells the real story.

“I call on all members of Pennsylvania’s Democrat Congressional delegation to publicly oppose holding this terror trial in Western Pennsylvania or anywhere else in the United States, because the security of our Commonwealth and our nation should always come first.”

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