Washington ( CNN ) -- Fearlessly demonstrating the majesty of U.S. justice or acquiescing to terrorists by giving them undeserved rights and a public platform ? The decision to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed , admitted mastermind of the September 11 , 2001 , attacks , and four other suspects to a New York courtroom , rather than a military tribunal , was described in stark contrasts Sunday by officials on opposing sides of the political spectrum . Democrats hailed Attorney General Eric Holder 's decision to try the men in a civilian court as a demonstration of America 's might and moral certainty , while Republicans called it a bad idea based on politics rather than pragmatism . `` We have a judicial system that 's the envy of the world , '' Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy , D-Vermont , said on the CBS program `` Face the Nation . '' `` I do n't think we should run and hide and cower . Let 's use our system . '' But Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire , speaking on the CNN program `` State of the Union , '' questioned why foreigners who allegedly are terrorists at war with the United States should be given full judicial rights of U.S. citizens . `` These people are evil people , '' Gregg said of the defendants . `` They represent a cause which wants to destroy this nation . If they have the opportunity and were to get free , they would try to destroy this country . There 's no reason we should have them in the criminal justice system . '' Former New York Major Rudy Giuliani , considered a possible GOP presidential candidate in 2012 , called military tribunals created for terrorism suspects who have been held at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , a better option than a civilian court . Military tribunals are `` a better choice for the government , '' Giuliani said on `` Fox News Sunday . '' `` This choice of New York is a better choice for the terrorists . Why would you seek to give the terrorists a better choice than you 're giving the public ? '' In a separate interview on CNN 's `` State of the Union , '' Giuliani said a New York court trial would cause unnecessary stress and expense for the city 's police force . `` Anyone that tells you that this does n't create additional security problems , of course , is n't telling you the truth , '' Giuliani said . `` And the best indication of it is , just look at the additional security that 's going to be employed when this happens . That also happens to cost millions and millions and millions of dollars . '' Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan , the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee , warned that bringing the suspects to New York raised the risk of further attacks on the United States . `` Why move them into the United States while we are still under the threat from radical jihadists ? '' Hoekstra asked on the CBS program . However , Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island said on `` Fox News Sunday '' that scores of terrorism suspects were successfully prosecuted in civilian courts under the Bush Administration . `` What was a statesmanlike decision by the Bush administration ca n't be a political decision by this administration , '' Reed said . Holder announced the decision on the trial Friday . He said he expected all five suspects to be tried together and for prosecutors to seek the death penalty . The trial would be open to the public , although some portions that deal with classified information may be closed , Holder said .
Democrats : This is a test of America 's might and moral ##s . Military tribunals would have been better choice , says ex - N.Y. mayor Bloomberg . Rep. Pete Hoekstra , R - Michigan : Bringing suspects into U.S. raises threat of attacks . Senator Jack Reed , D - Rhode Island : Prosecuting terrorism suspects in civilian courts not new .