WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Democrats reportedly are planning to overhaul the new military tribunals law when they take over control of Congress in Washington in January.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, who will be the second-ranking Democrat on the International Relations Committee, took the first step by introducing legislation Friday to amend the existing law, The Hill newspaper reports.
One of the top critics of the tribunal law, Dodd says his bill will give habeas corpus protections to military detainees and bar any information that was gained through coercion from being used at trial.
It would also empower military judges to exclude hearsay evidence they deem unreliable.
Dodd's bill narrows the definition of "unlawful enemy combatant" to individuals who directly participate in hostilities against the United States who are not lawful combatants.
In addition, the legislation authorizes the U.S. Court of Appeals for the armed forces to review decisions made by military commissions.
Democrats criticized the military commission bill as unconstitutional even before it was signed into law last month.
