Pentagon Allows “Dirty Bomb” Suspect to See Attorney

The U.S. Defense Department yesterday said that Jose Padilla, who was arrested in 2002 over allegations that he was involved in a plant to detonate a “dirty bomb” within the United States, would be allowed to meet with a lawyer (see GSN, Jan. 23).

In a statement yesterday, the Pentagon described Padilla as “an enemy combatant,” and said he “will be allowed access to a lawyer subject to appropriate security restrictions.”

In December, a U.S. federal court ordered the Pentagon to grant Padilla legal representation or to free him, a decision that has been appealed and is expected to be examined by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the Washington Post.

Providing Padilla with access to his lawyer, according to the Pentagon, is “a matter of discretion and military authority” and “is not required by domestic or international law and should not be treated as a precedent” (Ricks/Powell, Washington Post, Feb. 12).

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