Washington, D.C.-- “Less than 48 hours into his presidency, President Obama has ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison. I am proud to stand with President Obama as he restores America’s respect for the rule of law by closing this facility which has so tarnished the honor of our country. Let the world see that United States has turned the corner and that mistakes of the past are being corrected.

“I have called for the closure of Guantanamo, and I am pleased our new President acted so quickly to get the process started. The Administration expects the closure to take place within a year.
“Calls for the closure came from far and wide for many years and were ignored by the Bush Administration. President Obama promised voters that he planned on closing the prison and he has delivered on that promise.

"America must never again be associated with torture and indefinite detentions without trials. Such behavior flies in the face of the Geneva Conventions and United States law, while sullying our reputation throughout the world.”