A Michigan congressman is taking heat on his stance against Guantanamo detainees coming to Standish.
Pete Hoekstra, from Holland, is being blasted by a group of former national security officials and military officers.
However, Hoekstra's office says that group is guilty of what it's accusing him of: political posturing.
Hoekstra says it shouldn't be the decision of the federal government to move prisoners into our state.
"These are scary people," Hoekstra said. "They've done scary things. You got the mastermind of 911 housed in Gitmo."
He also said the Obama administration is preying on an area that needs jobs.
"They're hurting economically, but let's not play off of the economic hardship and provide a quick fix without having the information to make a good decision," Hoekstra said.
A letter from former national security officials and military officers told Hoekstra, "By stirring up panic and distorting reality for political purposes, you do a disservice to the people of Michigan and the United States."
The letter goes on to say, "We ask you to return the debate to the 'civil and rational' in order to stop the spreading of fear that plays into the very hands of the enemies we are trying to defeat."
Hoekstra said the group behind the letter is from the far left and making the prison debate a partisan battle.
Hoekstra is running for governor next year on the Republican side and critics are claiming he's using the debate to score political points.
However, Hoekstra's office says the group behind the letter is made up of out-of-state Democrat contributers who do not represent the values of Standish.
Interest in the Standish Maximum Security Facility is keeping it open for now.
Pennsylvania correctional officials have also expressed interest in housing its prisoners.
