Washington, D.C. – Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), a senior Democratic Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, today sent a letter to the CIA’s Inspector General requesting a full accounting of the Agency’s use of “extraordinary rendition” -- the controversial process of sending detainees for interrogation to foreign countries known to use torture. In response to recent reports that some individuals have been mistakenly kidnapped by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Inspector General recently announced a probe of the practice, beginning with up to ten cases of mistaken CIA kidnappings.  Experts estimate that the Bush Administration has initiated 100 to 150 “extraordinary renditions” since Sept. 11, 2001, and perhaps many more.

Washington, DC - The Boston Globe reported yesterday that while signing the bill that outlaws the torture of detainees, President Bush reserved the right to bypass the law.  Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), author of the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act, made the following statement in response to the news that the President issued a signing statement that he will interpret the law in the broader context to protect national security.

WASHINGTON, DC – After a knock-down drag-out fight with the White House, Senator John McCain succeeded in inserting language to the Department of Defense authorization bill that bans cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of foreign suspects in the war on terror.  The concession came less than a day after the House of Representatives voted 308- to 122 in favor of the McCain language.  Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) author of the "Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act," and of a House-passed provision barring any Defense Department funding from being spent in contravention of the Geneva Convention Against Torture, made the following statement in response to the news that a compromise had been reached.

WASHINGTON, DC- According to press reports, Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, apparently privately admitted to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the United States accidentally kidnapped a German citizen and rendered him to a secret prison, today  Representative Ed Markey (D-MA), author of the "Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act," introduced a Resolution of Inquiry demanding information from the Department of Defense, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the White House on the prisoners which have been rendered by the U.S. to facilities around the world.  The Markey Resolution of Inquiry directs the relevant agencies and the President to provide certain information to the House of Representatives relating to the extraordinary rendition of certain foreign citizens.