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House rejects Adam Smith’s ban on indefinite detention on U.S. soil
WASHINGTON — The House on Friday voted to uphold indefinite detention of any terrorism suspects, once again defeating a motion of Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, to roll back the legally-disputed practice.
By a 182-238 vote, the House rejected an amendment offered by Smith and Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., to guarantee any terrorist suspects arrested on U.S. soil — not just U.S. citizens — the right to a charge and a trial.
The amendment, included in the 2013 defense act, also would have repealed a requirement that anyone arrested on suspicion of terrorism be taken into military, not civilian, custody.
All three of Smith’s Democratic colleagues from Washington voted for his motion: Reps. Jim McDermott of Seattle, Rick Larsen of Lake Stevens and Norm Dicks of Bremerton.
The delegation’s four House Republicans voted no: Reps. Dave Reichert of Auburn, Jaime Herrera Beutler of Camas, Doc Hastings of Pasco and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Spokane.
Smith was seeking to undo portions of last year’s defense authorization act. That law gave American authorities explicit power to lock up terrorism suspects without ever bringing them to trial. That applies even to U.S. citizens arrested at home.
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