WASHINGTON, March 19 (UPI) -- Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich says the federal government will buy an Illinois prison even if the facility isn't used to hold terrorism suspects.
Weich sent a letter to members of the Illinois congressional delegation outlining plans to proceed with the purchase of Thomson Correctional Center, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.
At the very least, Weich said, the Bureau of Prisons would use the facility to house high-security federal inmates.
The Obama administration wants to use Thomson to house detainees from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but lawmakers must approve the plan.
The Justice Department has asked for $237 million in next year's budget to buy and begin operating Thomson.
Weich's letter to the Illinois delegation was in response to questions from Republican Rep. Donald Manzullo, who represents the area where Thomson is located.
