Altmire keeping 9/11 terrorists out of PA Friday, February 5, 2010 8:23 AM - Yesterday in Washington DC, Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) continued his efforts to ensure that 9/11 terrorist Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, his co-conspirators, and other Guantanamo Bay detainees are not tried in civilian courts in western Pennsylvania or anywhere else in the United States for that matter. Altmire has a long history of voting to prohibit Guantanamo detainees from being brought to the United States for civilian trial. On Monday, Altmire sent a letter to President Obama stating that he will strongly oppose any attempt to try 9/11 terrorists in western Pennsylvania or anywhere else in the United States. “I am opposed to granting suspected terrorists civilian trials anywhere in the United States,” said Altmire. “I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure that these terrorists are brought to justice in a way that will not jeopardize our national security.” Each of the three times the House has voted on the issue, Altmire has voted against his party’s leadership by voting to block the detainees from being brought to the United States for civilian trial. Altmire has also voted 19 times to place additional restrictions on detainee transfer and release. Altmire is also a cosponsor of the Stopping Criminal Trials for Guantanamo Terrorists Act of 2010. This legislation, introduced by Republican Congressman Peter King (NY-03), would specifically prohibit bringing Guantanamo detainees to anywhere in the U.S. for civilian trial. Altmire is one of only two Democrats who have cosponsored this legislation thus far. Altmire is also working with Congressman Frank Wolf (VA-10) to help introduce a bill this week to prohibit the 9/11 conspirators from being tried in a civilian court anywhere in the United States.