He insisted that a New York jury could still be impartial and that all legal requirements would be met before the suspects are brought onto US soil, with Congress being given a 45-day warning.
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates hailed the move as a major step forward as Obama seeks to close the detention center at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba by his self-imposed Jan. 22 deadline.
Officials said that up to 65 of the 215 inmates who still linger at Guantanamo are ready for trial and Holder said to expect more announcements in “the very near future.”
Another 69 Guantanamo inmates are cleared for release but struggling to find countries to take them in. The fate of the remainder — less than 100 — remains unclear.
Greg Craig, tasked by the White House with overseeing Guantanamo’s closure, resigned on Friday after criticism of his handling of the process.
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