By Michael Melia
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico
A military judge has disqualified a Pentagon legal official from participating in the Guantanamo war crimes trial against a former driver for Osama bin Laden, saying he lacks independence.
The judge ruled Friday the military must appoint a replacement to Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas Hartmann, the legal adviser to the military tribunals, before next month's scheduled trial of Salim Hamdan at the U.S. Navy base in Cuba.
Defense lawyers say Hartmann rushed proceedings in hopes of speedy convictions and sought to improperly influence who was prosecuted, selecting cases based on their potential to sway public opinion of the process.
At an April 28 hearing on the issue, former chief prosecutor Air Force Col. Morris Davis testified that Hartmann had pushed for "sexy" cases that would capture attention.
Friday's ruling directly affects only Hamdan's case, but a civilian attorney for the Yemeni detainee said it raises questions about the validity of charges that Hartmann was involved in preparing against other suspects at Guantanamo.
Hamdan is charged with supporting terrorism and faces life in prison if convicted. His trial, scheduled to start in June, would be the first U.S. war crimes trial for a Guantanamo prisoner.
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