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" Accused of involvement in the worst terror attacks in US history are returning to the scene of the crime. Attorney general Eric Holder announced today that self proclaimed 9/11 mastermind. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others will be tried in civilian federal court. Just blocks from ground zero in New York. National correspondent Catherine Herridge begins our team coverage."

" By his own admission the decision to send the alleged 9/11 conspirators to trial in New York is monumental."

" I've only been attorney general for eight or nine months and I think this is about the toughest decision that I had to make as attorney general. "

" The five men held at Guantanamo Bay include the alleged architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The remaining four are alleged planners or facilitators. Of the worst terrorist attack on US soil the men will now have the same constitutional rights as American citizens. If acquitted the men stand to be released."

" I would not have authorized the prosecution of these cases unless I was confident debt to our outcome would be a successful one."

" The attorney general told reporters 500 detainees will be sent to military commissions the holder would not say where in the US the military trials will be held among those defendants a -- on the series one of three men water boarded by the CIA -- this seriously accused planner of the USS Cole attack which killed seventeen sailors in October 2000. This attack is considered one of the precursors to 9/11 Kirk Lippold was the -- commander."

" If the military commissions process works and the administration believes that it can try terrorists under that venue. Then why not try all of them."

" All of the nine elevenths conspirators were held by the CIA and subjected to harsh interrogation tactics in the case of GSM that involved waterboarding. Legal sources say this evidence will not be admissible in court the attorney general claims it's not a problem."

" I have access to information that has not been publicly released it gives me great confidence that we will be successful. In the prosecutions of these cases in federal court."

" In Washington holders predecessor was highly critical. Michael Mukasey was also the judge in the first World Trade Center trial I can't see anything. Good coming out of necessarily can't see anything good coming out of it or what. And I think it would have been far preferable. To a -- these cases in this venue that congress created for trying them and where they were about to be front. In the senator Lindsey Graham one of the few Republicans to support closing Guantanamo was highly critical of the administration and is handling of the issue in a recent interview and what did you say the president. Quite frankly. The screw this up. -- office says he is now being asked by the White House not to comment until he meets personally with the president a senior Democrats had only praise for the decision. By trying them in our federal -- senator Patrick Leahy sent we demonstrate to the world of the most powerful nation on earth. Also trusts its judicial system. The ACLU was effusive in his praise for the nine living case because it is a huge victory for restoring due process and the rule of law. As well as repairing America's international standing. The president was traveling in Asia when the decision was announced."

" I am absolutely convinced. That. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Will. Being. Subject to be most exacting. Demands of justice."

" But a member of the Bush Administration says the decision of this magnitude and consequences should come from the top and from the president himself for."

" And -- there's also news today about Greg Craig the White House counsel was said to be steering the closure of Guantanamo Bay within a year. We were first to report what three weeks ago that he was leaving the White House but today it's official."

" Well that's correct -- major gear was the first to report that in October that what has canceled Craig Craig would be leaving that position. Could initially insisted he had no plans to go but today he resigns. And offered no explanation the question has been whether Craig who steered the Guantanamo issue would be to scapegoat for the problems and delays. Craig will now be replaced by attorney Bob Barr who is married to a needed done. You remember she's the departing White House communications director. He was front and center in the administration's attacks on fox. -- the net effect today. Is that Craig's resignation was buried on Friday and on the day when we had all that news to the and I -- in case there will be a lot of fallout to this story and --"