Grassley takes heat for 'OJ Simpson' comment

** FILE ** Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, speaks at the Iowa State Republican Party Convention in Des Moines, Iowa in this June 17, 2006, file photo. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney, File) [Click to enlarge]

Iowa Democrat leaders are attacking veteran Senator Chuck Grassley this week for comments Grassley made Wednesday comparing the trial of OJ Simpson to that of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

Grassley was speaking on civilian trials for terrorists during a hearing with the U.S. Attorney General:

"I don't know how you can make a statement that failure to convict is not an option, when you got juries in this country. I think a lot of Americans thought O.J. Simpson oughta been convicted of murder rather than being in jail for what he's in jail for," Grassley said. "It seemed to me ludicrous. I'm a farmer, not a lawyer, but I just wanted to make an observation."

Attorney general Eric Holder interrupted Grassley's questioning at that point, and assured Grassley that if a trial was unsuccessful and didn't result in a conviction, the defendant would not be released in the U.S.

State Democrat chair Michael Kiernan said, "Senator Grassley's false and disrespectful comments today comparing the trials of OJ Simpson and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed are an insult to the American judicial system and worse yet, the American people. Grassley's Karl Rove style fear mongering tactics have no place in today's politics and distract from the larger national security issues facing our country. Trial by jury is the bedrock of the U.S. Constitution."