[JURIST] South Carolina US senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint [official websites], both Republicans, have angrily criticized a Democrat-sponsored proposal to transfer current prisoners held at the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the state's penal system or facilities in any other US state. Graham claimed the suggestion was a dangerous and emotionally fueled one which ignored the ongoing need for the current offshore military prison to house top terror suspects.

Democrat James Moran (VA - D) [official website] has suggested that the move would be a step towards shutting down the controversial military prison, and would help show the world that America is still dedicated to protecting human rights, even those of suspected terrorists. Moran has proposed South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland as possible destinations for the detainees because of the reputation of the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals [official website] as staunchly conservative. From South Carolina, The State has local coverage.