Rep. Nadler Continues Investigation of Internal Bush Interrogation “Rules”

Addington and Yoo Testify Before Lawmakers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties today held an oversight hearing on the role that Bush Administration lawyers played in creating, developing and implementing interrogation policies that have resulted in the widespread abuse of detainees in U.S. custody and control.

“The rules for these so-called ‘enhanced’ interrogation techniques were hatched at the highest levels of our government,” said Rep. Nadler.  “Congress has the responsibility to examine how this legal ‘guidance’ was formulated, and to determine if it was appropriate.  The Bush Administration has consistently agreed that torture is un-American, but their actions do not seem to match their words.”  

Today’s hearing is the third in a series on this topic and included testimony from some of the key architects of the Administration’s legal and policy framework for interrogations.  Witnesses included David Addington, Chief of Staff and former Counsel to the Vice President, John Yoo, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), and Chris Schroeder, former Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the OLC.

Addington and Yoo were involved in the development of the various secret legal opinions and memoranda that argued that harsh, and possibly illegal, methods were legal and acceptable.  Yoo authored key OLC memos issued from 2001 to 2003, including one exploring the legal standards governing interrogations by the CIA and the armed services which has since been withdrawn.

On Tuesday, the Subcommittee authorized the Committee Chairman to issue a subpoena to compel the testimony of Douglas Feith.  Feith, the former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, was scheduled to appear before the Subcommittee last week.  Despite agreeing to testify voluntarily, on the morning of the hearing, Feith, through his attorney, informed the Chair that he was unwilling to appear that day.  Addington’s appearance today was the result of a subpoena approved by the Subcommittee in May.

Earlier this month, Rep. Nadler, along with 55 other members of the House, asked the Attorney General to appoint a special counsel to investigate whether the Bush Administration’s policies regarding the interrogation of detainees have violated federal criminal laws.  

“Torture violates the principles and laws of America,” Nadler added.  “And yet it was authorized by our Executive against those in our custody and control.  We need to examine how that happened so we can take steps to ensure that it does not happen again and to ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”