WASHINGTON (February 3, 2010)—U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says he made the decision, but the FBI informed its partners in the intelligence community that the Christmas Day terrorism suspect would be charged in civilian court and that no objections were raised.

In a letter to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Holder also said President Barack Obama and senior members of his national security team discussed the possibility of charging Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in the military system, but said there was no support for such a move.

Republicans have criticized the decision to read the Nigerian his Miranda rights and not to declare him an enemy combatant, arguing that as an enemy combatant, Abdulmutallab could have been held indefinitely without access to an attorney.

But Holder said none of that prevented authorities from obtaining intelligence from him.

Officials say Abdulmutallab is talking to investigators about his contacts in Yemen and say he's provided intelligence in multiple terrorism investigations.

Holder also notes that there's "no court-approved system" in place for suspected terrorists captured in the U.S. to be held without access to an attorney.