DAVENPORT - U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, said Wednesday he is seeking to bring federal officials to eastern Iowa for a public meeting, possibly in Clinton, to answer questions his constituents may have about the idea of moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to the Thomson Correctional Center.

Braley, D-Iowa, still hasn't said if he's for the idea, but he rebutted arguments Republicans have made against it. Braley's congressional district is directly across the Mississippi River from the near-vacant prison.

Braley on Monday said after a tour of the facility with Federal Bureau of Prisons and Department of Defense officials that the prison located about 12 miles north of Clinton on the Illinois side is a strong contender.

"They're looking at a number of different facilities, but right now this one is at the top of the list because it offers them everything they're looking for," the Waterloo Democrat said.

Braley said he wants to continue to talk with colleagues and constituents before he backs the measure, which has not been given a timeline.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he's against moving any Guantanamo Bay prisoners to the United States, including to Thomson.

U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., meanwhile, announced his support for the idea Wednesday, as did U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder agreed with U.S. Sen. Dick Dubin during a Senate hearing Wednesday that the Thomson Correctional Center would be "the most secure prison in the United States," if detainees from Guantanamo Bay were moved there.