I urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold immediate public hearings on the
detention authority provisions in S.1253, the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA).

If enacted, sections 1031, 1032 and 1036 of the NDAA would:

(1) Explicitly authorize the federal government to imprison indefinitely,
without charge or trial, civilians apprehended both inside and outside the
United States;

(2) Mandate military detention of some civilians who would otherwise be outside
military control, including suspects apprehended within the United States
itself; and

(3) Transfer to the Department of Defense core prosecutorial, investigative, law
enforcement, penal, and custodial authority and responsibility now held by the
Department of Justice.

These provisions in the NDAA are inconsistent with fundamental democratic values
enunciated in the Constitution of the United States.  I urge the Judiciary
Committee to conduct a full, public examination of these dangerous measures and
to assert the Committee's jurisdiction to mark up sections 1031, 1032, and 1036
before the NDAA goes to the Senate floor.

I am following this issue closely and look forward to your response.