Leahy Will Defy Obama to Pursue Bush-Era Torture Inquiry
EmailABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf reports from Capitol Hill: Sen. Patrick Leahy pledged today that if he cannot get the votes to create a bipartisan commission to investigate U.S. torture policy under former President George W. Bush — and regardless of calls by President Obama that any inquiry be bipartisan — he’ll conduct his own partisan inquiry in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Leahy’s comments after a press conference on Capitol Hill today exposed a growing rift between Democrats in Congress and the White House on how to seek accountability from Bush-era Justice officials for condoning torture in the aftermath of 9/11.
President Obama is dancing around the issue, not condoning an inquiry into the terror policies, but requesting that if such an inquiry took place it should be bipartisan.
Obama said Tuesday that he’d like for Congress to "examine ways that it can be done in a bipartisan fashion, outside of the typical hearing process that can sometimes break down and break it entirely along party lines."
"I’m not suggesting that that should be done, but I’m saying, if you’ve got a choice, I think it’s very important for the American people to feel as if this is not being dealt with to provide one side or another political advantage but rather is being done in order to learn some lessons so that we move forward in an effective way," Obama said.
But a bipartisan commission needs support from both parties. And Republicans do not seem inclined to offer theirs any time soon.
Today, Leahy said if he cannot get votes from Republicans for a bipartisan commission, he’ll hold his inquiry in just the "normal hearing process" that Obama warned against.
Leahy called a hearing of the Judiciary Committee in March to explore how to form a special commission to investigate torture policy under President Bush. Back then, President Obama seemed opposed to the commission. Obama said at the time he was more interested in looking forward.
But there has been renewed scrutiny of potential wrongdoing surrounding interrogation policy since the Obama administration released memos drafted by the Justice Department under President Bush that seem to condone and justify torture. That has prompted Obama to sound more open to the commission and Leahy to sound more determined to hold an inquiry, bipartisan or not.
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Maybe Hillary can ask the Germans if Nuremburg is available, again.
Posted by: Sammy | April 22, 2009, 11:51 am 11:51 am
The White House should have seen thi coming. Maybe POTUS was just accepting the inevitable reaction from liberals in Congress when he flip-flopped on prosecutions.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | April 22, 2009, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
How can Obama oppose this. Let their be an investigation and prosecution for those who willingly broke the law.
I guess since Obama and his staff are above the law, the Bush administration gets to be as well. After all: ” what do you expect from a PIG but a grunt!
I don’t know what’s more cowardly AND pathetic, Bush’s crimes or Obama’s effort to cover them up.
Posted by: hmn | April 22, 2009, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
Then he also must investigate why Congress didn’t stop it when they were informed by the WH.
They could have passed a law against it or threatened to pull CIA funds once they were notitifed.
Why are they not culpable too?
The former President follwed the law when he notified them.
Posted by: J House | April 22, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
Why do Democrats only do investigations but never accomplish anything.
THEY investigated the heck out of the IRAQ war and declared it a failure before it was over.
Posted by: scab head | April 22, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Question this..
Obama said that returning United States Soldiers who bravely fought with their lives are POTENTIAL TERRORISTS.
Posted by: screwwd | April 22, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Torture will not make any friends overseas, and today, international cooperation is really necessary to solve some of the most pressing issues in the world such as malaria, measles, and malnutrition. The Borgen Project has good info on the estimated cost of ending global poverty:
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget.
Posted by: David | April 22, 2009, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
Not a single person will go to jail. Hearings will be held, outrage will be expressed, postures will assumed, but in the end, nobody will pay. It’s the American way.
Posted by: nerdoff | April 22, 2009, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
This a political side show that Obi has no influence to control. he is a fraud. The Dems are out of control and we are losing national secrets that only helps our enemies.
Posted by: Jose53 | April 22, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
I guess I must becoming a conservative democrat(now that is an oxymoron), ’cause I can’t see the need to prosecute/persecute the last administration for things that were being used in defense of the nation. It’s ironic that some People are not willing to ‘move on”(.org)if it persecutes the last party in power. What happenned to the President’s promise to bring people together. Don’t worry, what goes around comes around. Historically, we haven’t been nonpartisan/bipartisan since before Nixon or even LBJ.
Posted by: arvin | April 22, 2009, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
SENATOR LEAHY SHOULD BE CENSURED FOR USING HIS POWER TO MAKE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION LOOK BAD IN A WARTIME ERA. THIS PARTISAN SENATOR WILL INCUR THE WRATH OF BOTH PARTIOES. GOD HELP US FOR EVER ELECTING THIS ILK.
Posted by: donald field | April 22, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
The headline is pure Baloney!
Nothing is being done without the
President’s OK.
Anyone who believes that
President Obama is not of the same
mindset as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid
is living in La La Land!
The president can stop this nonsense
by saying he will not tolerate any
recriminations against the previous
administration!
He is in charge not Pelosi or Reid!
Posted by: reaganfan | April 23, 2009, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Sign the petition for the resignation of Barrack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid at SHADOWFAXREPORT.com. They have broken their oath of office to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States of America. If they do not resign they should be impeached for treasonous acts.
Posted by: Shadowfax | April 23, 2009, 3:47 am 3:47 am
Right on, Shadowfox!
President Obama has put our troops
in danger in Afganistan and Iraq by
releasing those classified CIA memos!
That is treason, an impeachable offense!
The only thing is we’d have to impeach
VP Biden as well!
He’d be a bigger disaster than Obama
as president!
Posted by: reaganfan | April 23, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Sorry I meant Shadowfax.
Posted by: reaganfan | April 23, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
The Democrats were briefed about all of this before it was put into action. Patrick Leahy belongs on the Looney Toone’s show.
Posted by: Steve | April 25, 2009, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
Obama needs to grow a set a balls. He is SUPPOSED to be the President, isn’t he? I wish Obama was never elected. He is going to tear this country apart. The Democrats are tearing this country apart.
Posted by: Sandy | April 25, 2009, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
Senator Leahy should be commended for his brave efforts to ensure that America follows international law and prosecutes those who have violated it. Obama’s efforts to cover up Bush’s violations of the law and even extend the executive powers the Bush administration granted themselves are scandalous. What also should be investigated is the wiretap program Obama still has running.
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