Guantanamo war court overseer fired, sources say
Source: The Miami Herald
BY CAROL ROSENBERG
crosenberg@miamiherald.com
February 05, 2018 01:18 PM
Updated 1 hour 12 minutes ago
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, CUBA - In a surprise move, the Pentagon has fired the top official overseeing the trials of the five men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks and other alleged war criminals held at Guantánamo, the Miami Herald has learned.
Harvey Rishikof took over as convening authority for military commissions on April 3. The decision does not halt ongoing hearings at the war court here because, technically, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis holds the title in the absence of a designee.
It was not immediately known what caused Mattis to dismiss Rishikof, an attorney with experience in national security law who, unlike earlier war court overseers, had no U.S. military experience. Also removed was Gary Brown, the legal adviser for military commissions. The Office of the Convening Authority is responsible for approving cases for trial, plea agreements, reviewing convictions and sentences — and resourcing defense teams.
The firing happened over the weekend, according to two people aware of the development. A Defense Department official declined to comment.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/guantanamo/article198456714.html
