By Charles Hoskinson

A GROUP OF 13 DEMOCRATIC SENATORS are asking Majority Leader Reid not to bring the annual defense authorization bill to the floor with language that seeks to limit terrorism trials in civilian courts, backing the administration’s position on the issue. The dispute has held up consideration of the bill, though Reid has said it would be on the floor by the end of the year. POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein has the story here: http://politi.co/w2MCcz

THE SUSPECTED MASTERMIND OF THE USS COLE ATTACK is asking the military commission hearing his case: “What happens if I’m acquitted?” Lawyers for Abd Al-Rashim Al-Nashiri are suggesting his trial for the October 2000 attack that led to the deaths of 17 Navy sailors in a harbor in Yemen would amount to a sham if he cannot be “meaningfully acquitted.” http://politi.co/tytHk9

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