First Gitmo detainee arrives in US despite Senate rebuke of Obama

Guantanamo Bay detainee Ahmed Ghailani arrived in New York this morning to face trial for his alleged role in the 1998 east African embassy bombings, the Justice Department announced.

Ghailani, a Tanzanian, rose through the ranks of al Qaeda, eventually becoming a bodyguard for Osama bin Laden.

He was arrested in Pakistan in 2004.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said Ghailani's transfer was "the first step in the Democrats' plan to import terrorists into America."

Last month the Senate overwhelmingly voted to deny funding for the "transfer, release, or incarcerate any individual who was detained as of May 19, 2009, at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to or within the United States."

As I noted two days ago, during the Bush presidency the Democrats stressed the importance of strong Congressional oversight of the executive branch.

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