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January 28th, 2010 Posted by Mike Memoli 

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg lobbed a pre-State of the Union surprise for the White House yesterday, reversing course on the administration's plan to hold the Khalid Shaikh Mohammed trial in a lower Manhattan courthouse. Today, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) introduced legislation that would cut off funds for such a trial. On board Air Force One today en route to Tampa, deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton signaled the administration has no intention of changing plans. From the print pooler on board: The White House has not changed its view on the decision to prosecute Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in New York City, despite new criticism from Mayor Bloomberg and others in Manhattan.

“Let me start by saying that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is a murderous thug who has admitted to some of the most heinous crimes ever committed against our country,” Mr. Burton said. “The president is committed to seeing that he's brought to justice. He agrees with the attorney general's opinion in November that he and others can be litigated successfully and securing in the United States of America, just like others have – like Richard Reid. Currently our federal jails hold hundreds of convicted terrorists and the president's opinion has not changed on that.”

Burton also was asked about Justice Samuel Alito's much-talked about reaction to the president's comment on last week's Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance.

"One of the great things about our democracy is that powerful members of the government at high levels can disagree in public and in private,” Burton said. “This is one of those cases. But the president is no less committed to seeing this reform.”