Washington, D.C.- House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith released the following statement after the decision to charge Boston bombing suspect in civilian court:

“I agree with President Obama’s decision to charge the Boston bombing suspect in civilian court.  At this point in time, there is no evidence that the suspect was connected with al Qaeda or its affiliates, while there is an abundance of evidence that suggests he committed both state and federal crimes.  There is no basis for him to be held as an enemy combatant at this time.  Our civilian law enforcement and courts have a proven track record of success in crimes related to terrorism, and I have full confidence in their abilities.  It is also critical that the suspect be interrogated to gain information and intelligence.  We must ensure that we do all we can to understand the scope of the attacks and prevent a similar attack from happening again.”