Paterson Echoes Critics Of Terror Trial Decision

By: Bobby Cuza

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Governor David Paterson drifted from party lines Monday when asked to weigh in on the decision to try the alleged mastermind of the September 11th attacks in New York. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed the following report.

Since Friday, many Republicans -- including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- have attacked the Obama administration for planning to try September 11th terror suspects in federal court in Lower Manhattan. Democrats, however, say it's just partisan politics.

“I think at this point the only criticism has been from people who want to score political points," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

On Monday, Governor Paterson broke from his party's seemingly uniform stance and criticized the decision.

"This is not a decision that I would have made," Paterson said.

While pledging the state’s full cooperation with the federal government, the governor seemed to suggest the trial will reopen old wounds.

"It's very painful. We're still having trouble getting over it. We still have been unable to rebuild that site and having those terrorist tried so close to the attack is going to be an incumbrance on all of New Yorkers," Paterson said.

Few Democrats appear to share Paterson’s view, including most of those who represent Lower Manhattan.

"I think it’ll be painful no matter where it is, because you know, it’s not as if TV and radio doesn’t exist. No, and I think it’s the American tradition. The American law generally is that a person is tried in the jurisdiction in which the crime occurred," said Congressman Jerrold Nadler.

"It’s probably appropriate they should be tried so close to where the murder took place," Silver said.

Paterson was backed up by City Councilman Alan Gerson, who says the trial will be a burden on the surrounding community.

"At best, it’ll be a detrimental disruption, and at worst, it does pose a security risk," Gerson said.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, meanwhile, downplayed the strain on city resources Monday, pointing out that Downtown is already heavily secured.

"While we’ll have to ramp it up, I don’t know that the real cost is going to be material," Bloomberg said.

Whatever the cost, the city says it will seek compensation from Washington, D.C.