Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and author of the Restoring the Constitution Act, released the following statement today on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on those held at Guantanamo.

"Today’s decision by the Supreme Court providing the right to habeas corpus for those detained at Guantanamo Bay once again demonstrates President Bush’s failure to respect the rule of law and uphold our Constitution. The Court made the right decision in rejecting the Bush Administration’s unprecedented efforts to undermine the most fundamental tenets of our society.

"I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting our national security, but there is both a right and a wrong way to achieve this security—and time and again this President has chosen the wrong way. I strongly opposed the Military Commissions Act in large part because it denied the fundamental right of habeas corpus to those held in U.S. custody.  The United States has an obligation to provide a fair and credible process for bringing suspected terrorists to justice that preserves our nation’s moral authority, respects the rule of law, and ensures our security.

"I’m hopeful that today’s decision will begin to restore America’s role as a moral force in the world."

Senator Dodd’s Restoring the Constitution Act would restore habeas corpus rights, bar evidence gained through torture or coercion and reinstate U.S. adherence to the Geneva Conventions.

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