U.S. Defends Secret Evidence in Terror Case

The government defended its use of secret evidence against a Muslim charity accused of helping terrorists, arguing that laying out its case could cause “grave damage to the national security.”

Justice Department attorney Douglas Letter told members of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that although secret evidence is normally “something to be avoided,” federal law allows it in exceptional cases.

Roger Simmons, an attorney for the Global Relief Foundation, said the use of such evidence is unconstitutional.

Global Relief is appealing a federal judge’s June ruling that upheld as constitutional the government’s freezing of its bank accounts. Prosecutors say the group funneled money to terrorists. Simmons argued that Global Relief has not been charged with any crime, and that its leaders never have been accused of violence or of being members of Al Qaeda.