Rep. Nadler Examines Internal “Rules” for Bush Interrogation Techniques

Key Witness Scheduled to Testify Refuses to Appear

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

Witnesses at the hearing included two former high-ranking Bush Administration officials.  A third witness, Douglas Feith, former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, was also scheduled to appear, but this morning his attorney informed the Chair that he was unwilling to attend.

“Through clever word play and a redefinition of the rules, those at the highest levels of government created and enforced these so-called ‘enhanced’ interrogation techniques,” said Rep. Nadler.  “We need to know if the Justice Department and others provided proper legal guidance to the Administration, and if they did not, we need to consider how we can prevent this aberration from happening again.  Mr. Feith’s unwillingness to attend voluntarily and provide the truth about this government’s actions shows a fundamental disrespect for Congress and the American people.”

Today’s hearing follows a similar one held in May, where the Subcommittee passed a resolution to authorize the full Committee Chairman to issue a subpoena to David Addington, Chief of Staff to Vice President Richard Cheney.  Mr. Addington and John Yoo, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, are expected to appear before the Subcommittee later this month.

Other witnesses at today’s hearing included Daniel Levin, former Assistant Attorney General, and Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell.  These two witnesses may have been involved in the development of the various secret legal opinions and memoranda that argued that harsh, and possibly illegal, methods were legal and acceptable.  They also have information about the Administration’s decision not to afford any Geneva Convention protections to suspected al Qaeda, Taliban, and “unlawful enemy combatant” detainees -- a decision that was ultimately rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Torture violates all the principles that America stands for, and yet it was used by this government against those in our custody and control,” Nadler added.  “By taking steps to uphold the Constitution, we can act in a manner that will honor the freedoms that define America.”