Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Christopher Anders, senior legislative counsel in the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office, discusses how the Obama administration’s minimal effort on closing Guantanamo has demoralized and discouraged Democrats willing to take political risks to make it happen; how the DOJ’s absolute certainty of convictions in terrorism cases casts doubt on the US “justice” system; the lack of trials for 9/11 defendants (except marginal players) despite nearly 10 years gone by; and the primary lesson learned from the Anwar al-Awlaki decision: courts are continuing to defer authority to Congress and the President.

MP3 here. (19:50)

Christopher E. Anders is the senior legislative counsel in the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington Legislative Office. He represents the ACLU in lobbying Congress and the executive branch on lesbian and gay rights, the faith-based initiative, conflicts between religious claims and civil rights, fair housing, oversight of federal civil rights enforcement, restoration of civil rights protections eroded by the courts, hate crimes and HIV/AIDS issues.