granted access inside the maximum security courtroom along 10 family members of 9/11 victims, all sitting behind thick reinforced glass. >> 15 years ago asm and dozen other men transferred from cia black sites. at the time president bush denied they were tortured. >> the united states does not torture. it's against our laws and it's against our values, i have not authorized it and i will not authorize it. >> a former gitmo defense attorney says these hearings would move much faster on the mainland. >> holding a trial in cuba where none of the lawyers, none of the judges, the interpreters, the court personnel, none of them are stationed there. >> former president obama pledged to close gitmo. congress blocked him at every turn, including transfers back to the united states to stand trial. born in kuwait, ksm went to a small college in north carolina before turning to a life of terrorism beginning in afghanistan. in court this week questions the new judge appointed the case