Illinois Republican Party

Roskam Statement on Giannoulias Disclosure of Receiving a National Security Briefing
11/20/2009

Statement from Congressman Peter Roskam on the disclosure this morning from Democrat Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias that he received a National Security Council (NSC) briefing on possibly moving Guantanamo to Illinois:

“Given Mr. Giannoulias’ disclosure that he received a NSC briefing on possibly moving Guantanamo to Illinois, I urge the Obama Administration to eschew the increasingly political nature of this situation. Moving terrorists to Illinois will have tremendous security and economic implications, and now this situation has been tainted by the appearance of political favoritism given that a Democrat U.S. Senate candidate received a NSC briefing while elected Members of Congress have not. The people of Illinois will be best served by a process that forgoes the behind-closed-doors political approach and instead provides for open and transparent consideration.”

Background:

“Most importantly I had a chance to talk to the National Security Council folks.” – Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias (WLS 890 AM’s “Don Wade and Roma Show”, 11/20/2009)

The full audio of the interview can be found at the link below.

(6:30 mark)

Roma: “Have you been briefed on this by the White House or since you are a state constitutional officer has Governor Quinn briefed you?

Giannoulias: “We’ve spoken to their offices, I’ve gotten some packets of paper, and I’ve read them. Most importantly I had a chance to talk to the National Security Council folks.”

(3:50 mark)

Giannoulias: “I’ve had a chance to talk to some folks on the National Security Council and they’ve told me that today, in this country federal prisons securely house approximately 350 inmates already including 35 already in Illinois and the U.S. military has demonstrated the ability to house those inmates, so I’ve heard some facts from them.”

FULL AUDIO HERE (MP3)

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