veronica_rich (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
veronica_rich) wrote2011-03-29 02:59 pm
veronica_rich) wrote2011-03-29 02:59 pm
The dumb, it BURNS
GOP Senator Turns the Tables at Muslim Rights Hearing
In part, emphasis mine: (Senator Jon) Kyl defended the hearing over Muslim radicalization today, saying, "Political correctness cannot stand in the way of identifying those who would do us harm." He questioned whether Khera's (Farhana Khera, the executive director of the group Muslim Advocates) organization was committed to helping root out extremist elements of Islam, given that its website advises Muslims to consult a lawyer before speaking with the FBI about violent extremism.
"I would think Muslim Americans would feel a special obligation to help in such investigations," Kyl said.
Khera responded that "every American has a civic duty to report criminal activity," but added that "every American has the right to seek legal advice."
For those of you who don't see the problem, here we have someone trained as a lawyer advocating that someone being questioned by police NOT wait for the advice of counsel before answering questions in an investigation. He's either the dumbest fucking lawyer in the country, or there's a reason his occupation used to be "attorney" according to his website. If such a case were to go to trial, a halfway decent defense attorney could get their client off - even if guilty - by pointing out their client was not adequately represented by counsel during interrogation. This can be done even if the person waives their right to a lawyer - again, by an attorney who knows what they're doing.
In other words, quite aside from what any of you might personally feel about Muslims (or anyone else as a group), from a purely legal perspective, this is a stupid, stupid thing for Kyl to be quoted as saying, given his education and the matter at hand. Actual guilty people have been acquitted or suffered far more lenient sentencing than you'd want for them, on what he's advocating.
In part, emphasis mine: (Senator Jon) Kyl defended the hearing over Muslim radicalization today, saying, "Political correctness cannot stand in the way of identifying those who would do us harm." He questioned whether Khera's (Farhana Khera, the executive director of the group Muslim Advocates) organization was committed to helping root out extremist elements of Islam, given that its website advises Muslims to consult a lawyer before speaking with the FBI about violent extremism.
"I would think Muslim Americans would feel a special obligation to help in such investigations," Kyl said.
Khera responded that "every American has a civic duty to report criminal activity," but added that "every American has the right to seek legal advice."
For those of you who don't see the problem, here we have someone trained as a lawyer advocating that someone being questioned by police NOT wait for the advice of counsel before answering questions in an investigation. He's either the dumbest fucking lawyer in the country, or there's a reason his occupation used to be "attorney" according to his website. If such a case were to go to trial, a halfway decent defense attorney could get their client off - even if guilty - by pointing out their client was not adequately represented by counsel during interrogation. This can be done even if the person waives their right to a lawyer - again, by an attorney who knows what they're doing.
In other words, quite aside from what any of you might personally feel about Muslims (or anyone else as a group), from a purely legal perspective, this is a stupid, stupid thing for Kyl to be quoted as saying, given his education and the matter at hand. Actual guilty people have been acquitted or suffered far more lenient sentencing than you'd want for them, on what he's advocating.
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Wherefore art thou, Uncle Keith?
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