Rumsfeld v. Padilla
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Jose Padilla is an American citizen currently being confined in a military brig. The Government claims he is an “enemy combatant” associated with al Qaeda. For almost two years, the Government denied Padilla access to counsel, claiming that the Executive has the power to identify “enemy combatants” and to hold them indefinitely — which Padilla alleges is a violation of his Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights. Cato’s brief argues that Padilla should be permitted to meet with his attorney and is entitled to an evidentiary hearing concerning his status as an “enemy combatant.”
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