New York City is a beacon of American opportunity and freedom, and as such it will always be a target for domestic and international terrorists. Just as the NYPD has proven that there is a valid and necessary local police function in fighting terrorism so too is there an important role for Manhattan prosecutors to play. The vital importance of that role was underscored by the recent New York County prosecution of international banks that were found to be executing massive illegal money transfers for Iranian banks. At least one of the Iranian banks has been sanctioned for ties to terror organizations. The DA's Office, working together with the federal government, was instrumental in investigating and prosecuting the international banks. This is good progress, but there is more to be done.
My Plan to Fight Terrorism includes:
- Appointing a Counter-Terror Coordinator Reporting Directly to the District Attorney. This position will oversee and coordinate efforts to identify, investigate and prosecute terrorist plots and organizations. While terrorism prosecutions are largely federal undertakings, the DA’s Office can and should provide critical assistance to its partners. The coordinator will lead the expansion and improvement of the relationship between the DA’s Office and the formidable array of counter-terror investigative entities in New York City, including elements of the Department of Justice, the FBI, the NYPD, the federal Department of Homeland Security and the New York State Office of Homeland Security. This is critical as the DA's Office flags criminal cases that are suspicious or have likely links to terrorism.
- Pursuing Connections between Terrorism and other Crimes. Because terrorist organizations share many of the same attributes as more traditional organized criminal enterprises, the DA’s Counter-Terror Coordinator will work to identify terrorist organizations and the entities which support them in their dormant stages, with the goal of preventing future attacks.
- The Office will work to prevent funding of terrorism by aggressively prosecuting money laundering and related crimes, which help fund terrorist activities.
- The Office will act to foil terrorist plots by investigating smugglers of more traditional materials such as weapons and drugs. Drug smugglers have the ability to smuggle materials for terrorism, and the Office's involvement in more common smuggling cases positions it to identify smuggling cases connected to terrorism.
- Designating a Team of Counter-Terror Prosecutors and Investigators. Vance will designate a team of prosecutors and investigators familiar with anti-terrorism statutes and experienced in handling crimes that often support terrorism—such as credit card fraud, money laundering, false identification, tax evasion, theft and weapons possession. Working with the NYPD and federal authorities, this team will attempt to “connect all the dots” and will understand the big picture of terrorism and the role that common crimes can play in the identification of terrorist organizations.
- Expanding Money Laundering Prosecutions. Terrorists and their supporters often use financial organizations in Manhattan to launder funds to support their activities. The Manhattan DA’s Office has gained an international reputation of excellence for combating large-scale money laundering. These cases protect the integrity of our financial system and bar terrorists and their supporters from using our banking system to finance their operations. Money laundering and related prosecutions will be expanded.
- If further economic sanctions are imposed on Iran, the District Attorney's Office will have an important role to play in ensuring that those sanctions are enforced and Iranians are not able to illegally use the Manhattan financial apparatus.
- Protecting Civil Liberties. Combating terrorism is an essential function of 21st Century law enforcement. But the Manhattan DA must always be conscious of the appropriate balance between civil liberties and counter-terror activities. A special senior prosecutor, with direct access to the DA, will be appointed to provide oversight and guidance on all issues related to counter-terrorism, civil liberties and criminal procedure.
