Holder added that he heard no objections from other government intelligence agencies when he informed them of his decision to charge Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in a civilian court.

Congressional Republicans are accusing the Obama Administration with botching the arrest and early prosecution of Abdulmutallab. They say the civil charges cost interrogators the chance to question the suspect and learn important information about his terrorist contacts abroad.

Holder, however, seems to have history on his side in making the decision to send the would-be terrorist to civilian courts.

The Bush Administration used the criminal court system to prosecute another failed airline terrorist, attempted shoe bomber Richard Reid, and hundreds of other individuals on terrorism-related charges, Holder said.

Holder added that reading the Nigerian his Miranda rights didn't stop interrogators from getting important information from the suspect. Republicans argue Abdulmutallab should have been declared an "enemy combatant" and should not have had Miranda rights, which include the right not to speak without advice of counsel, read to him.