In 2012 as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Barbara Comstock was one of 4 (out of a hundred total) to vote against a bill which bars virginia officials from cooperating from the suspension of habeas corpus under the NDAA.
Since the basic legal protections afforded to Americans by the Bill of Rights to the US Constitution is one the first matters of civics we learn in this country, I doubt the significance of this will be lost on many people, but Ill break this down a little, if for no other reason than for dramatic effect.
Being quite upset about monarchs imprisoning people indefinitely on political whims, the people England in the 17th Century codified the idea of habeas corpus in the Magna Carta. Americans, being quite freedom loving themselves, have enshrined the idea of due process and habeas corpus in, not one, but two amendments–the 5th and the 14th.
Here’s the 5th Amendment:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Barbara Comstock actually voted against ensuring due process and the right to a trial, against the prevention of unconstitutional detention of U.S. citizens.
Related:
http://rt.com/usa/156172-scotus-ndaa-hedges-obama/
https://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/ndaa
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