RELEASE: MNGOP Criticizes Franken For Standing Up For Individual Constitutional Rights

MNGOP Criticizes Franken For Standing Up For Individual Constitutional Rights
MNGOP also claims McCain amendment to cut wasteful spending would “put Americans at risk”

ST. PAUL [9/24/14]— Today, the Franken campaign responded to attacks by investment banker Mike McFadden and the Republican Party of Minnesota against Franken’s record of voting to protect Americans’ individual constitutional rights when he opposed Defense Authorization bills that contained language allowing the U.S. military to indefinitely detain American citizens without a trial or even charging them.

The Republicans also attacked Franken for supporting responsible cuts to the Defense budget, including supporting an amendment sponsored by Sen. John McCain to reduce funding for “an airplane that the military neither wants nor needs.”

In response, Franken campaign spokesperson Alexandra Fetissoff released the following statement:

“Sen. Franken strongly supports our military and the men and women who put their lives on the line in service of our country. He has voted many times to make sure they have the resources they need, but also believes there is wasteful and outdated spending that we can cut.

“We have a responsibility to safeguard Americans’ individual constitutional rights, which is why Sen. Franken opposed provisions that would allow for the indefinite detention of American citizens by the military. It is incredibly disturbing that Mike McFadden and the Minnesota Republican Party think it’s ok for the military to arrest and indefinitely detain U.S. citizens without charge or trial. Every Minnesotan should be concerned about their philosophy on this issue.”

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FACT: FRANKEN VOTED AGAINST MULTIPLE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILLS BECAUSE THEY ALLOWED FOR THE INDEFINITE DETENTION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS

December 2011: Franken Voted Against Defense Authorization Bill Because He Objected To Indefinite Detention Language. In a December 2011 Op/Ed, Franken wrote, “Yesterday, the Senate passed a bill that includes provisions on detention that I found simply unacceptable. These provisions are inconsistent with the liberties and freedoms that are at the core of the system our Founders established … The bill that passed on Thursday included several problematic provisions, the worst of which could allow the military to detain Americans indefinitely, without charge or trial, even if they’re captured in the U.S. At their core, these provisions will radically alter how we investigate, arrest, and detain individuals suspected of terrorism. What’s more, they could undermine the safety of our troops stationed abroad, and they introduce new and unnecessary uncertainty into our counterterrorism efforts.” [Huffington Post, Franken Op/Ed, 12/16/11; Vote 230, 12/15/11] - Note: Republican Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Jim Risch (R-ID) also voted against the bill.

Franken: Defense Bill Containing Indefinite Detention Provisions “Denigrates The Very Foundations Of This Country.” In a December 2011 Op/Ed explaining his vote against the Defense Authorization Bill, Franken wrote, “With this defense authorization act, Congress will, for the first time in 60 years, authorize the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens without charge or trial, according to its advocates … I think that denigrates the very foundations of this country. It denigrates the Bill of Rights. It denigrates what our Founders intended when they created a civilian, non-military justice system for trying and punishing people for crimes committed on U.S. soil. Our Founders were fearful of the military–and they purposely created a system of checks and balances to ensure we did not become a country under military rule. This bill undermines that core principle, which is why I could not support it. Yesterday was the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, and this wasn’t the way to mark its birthday.” [Huffington Post, Franken Op/Ed, 12/16/11]

December 2012: Franken Voted Against Defense Authorization Bill, Citing Indefinite Detention language. In December 2012, Franken voted against the final Defense Authorization bill. In a statement, Franken said, “I voted against this bill because, in its final form, it allowed for the indefinite military detention of Americans captured on U.S. soil – a clear violation of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is critical to the civil liberties of all Americans, and no act of Congress should ever threaten those freedoms … I continue to believe that allowing the military to arrest and detain people in the U.S. denigrates the Bill of Rights and what our Founders intended when they created a civilian, non-military justice system.” [Franken Press Release, 12/21/12; Vote 229, 12/21/12] - Note: Republican Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Jim Risch (R-ID) also voted against the bill.

FRANKEN JOINED SEN. JOHN MCCAIN IN VOTING TO CUT UNNECESSARY FUNDING THAT EVEN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DIDN’T WANT.

October 2009: Franken Joined John McCain In Voting To Cut Excess C-17 Funding. In October 2009, Franken voted for an amendment sponsored by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) “to strike amounts available for procurement of C-17 aircraft in excess of the amount requested by the President in the budget for fiscal year 2010.” Senator McCain called it “an airplane that the military neither wants nor needs.” [Vote 312, 10/6/09; Politico, 9/30/09]

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