Following Ayotte Leadership, Female Gitmo Guards Headed Back to Work

Statement

Following her leadership in Congress and on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte announced today that the military commission at Guantanamo has lifted the temporary injunction on the use of female guards for select detainee movements related to military commission proceedings.

"The 9/11 terrorists who facilitated the murder of almost 3,000 people on American soil should never have been allowed to dictate to us and prevent our female servicemembers at Guantanamo from fully performing their lawful duties, and I am pleased that the women serving there will once again be able to do the job for which they are well trained," said Senator Ayotte.

She continued, "We are so proud of the men and women serving at Guantanamo, and we owe them a great debt of gratitude for their service and professionalism which keeps Americans safe and terrorists off the battlefield."

In response to a military commission order issued at the request of the "9/11 Five", Ayotte led efforts to end discrimination against female guards at Guantanamo Bay simply because of their gender. She highlighted this issue through hearings of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Ayotte also successfully included a provision in the SASC and Senate-approved National Defense Authorization Act to end discrimination against female guards.

Source