Twist of Fate: Gitmo Prosecutor Could Be Defense Witness

Feb. 27, 2008 — -- He's been vilified as a war criminal for his strong support of detaining and prosecuting alleged terrorists at the controversial Guantanamo Bay military prison.

And he has been condemned for calling the detainees murderers, mocking their defense claims as "nauseating" and sarcastically poking holes in their alibis for being caught in Afghanistan: "When these guys went to camp, they weren't making s'mores and learning how to tie knots."

But Air Force Col. Morris "Mo" Davis, a 25-year veteran of the military and the former chief prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay, could wind up becoming a key defense witness for Osama bin Laden's driver.

In a stunning turnaround, Davis says that he has met with Salid Ahmed Hamdan's defense team and that he plans to testify at a hearing in the case. Davis would tell the court about what he says is political interference in the U.S. military tribunals, according to Hamdan's military lawyer, Navy Lt. Brian Mizer.

The irony is not lost on Davis, especially because he believes that Hamdan is probably guilty.

"This has nothing to do with the guilt or innocence of Hamdan," Davis told ABCNEWS.com. "I saw the charges and I wouldn't have forwarded them to the convening authority unless I felt we had a compelling case. I am satisfied that there is a strong case against Mr. Hamdan. He should be held accountable, but the process should be fair."

Davis resigned in October after more than two years of mounting concern that the military tribunals had become politicized by Bush administration appointees who demanded convictions.

Among his claims, he says that the Pentagon's former general counsel William Haynes insisted there be no acquittals and that Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England sought convictions in the months before the 2006 midterm elections.

During a September 2006 meeting at England's office, Davis claims that England told Haynes and him, "Hey, the election's coming up. There could be some strategic political value to get these guys charged quickly," referring to the Gitmo detainees including admitted 9/11 plotter Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.