Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, a son-in-law of Osama bin Laden and former al-Qaida functionary, was arraigned Friday in federal court in New York on charges of conspiring to kill Americans. There has been a debate over the Obama administration’s decision to try Abu Gaith in a civilian court. In a statement released today, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said Abu Gaith should have been held at Guantanamo Bay and questioned there.

Here is Goodlatte’s statement:

“The capture of Abu Ghaith is another example of our intelligence community’s unwavering commitment to find and capture foreign enemies of the United States.  But the Obama administration should not rush to try al-Qaeda’s former spokesman in a civilian court where he is afforded the full rights of a U.S. citizen.

 “There are still many questions that need to be answered, but by allowing Abu Ghaith to stand trial in the U.S. rather than sending him to Guantanamo Bay for further questioning, the Obama administration is missing an opportunity to obtain about a dozen years’ worth of intelligence from Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law and to gain valuable information about other potential attacks against Americans.  This decision made by the Obama administration jeopardizes the safety of Americans and guarantees the full panoply of constitutional rights to foreign terrorists.”